Head coach Beth Jillson saw plenty of areas for TWU to improve during Monday’s regular-season opener against Harding (Ark.).

Fortunately for the Pioneers, they will get to work on those areas while still undefeated, as TWU made plays down the stretch to preserve a 74-70 win.

Jillson said that while her team shot poorly from the field (38 percent) and made some defensive miscues despite forcing 27 turnovers, she was pleased with a balanced scoring attack that saw five Pioneers reach double figures.

“It was pretty balanced. The good thing is that we have so many different scoring options,” Jillson said. “We’re glad we won, so we don’t have to learn from a loss.”

Tia Dixon led the way for TWU with 16 points in 14 minutes off the bench as the Pioneers brushed off some first-game jitters.

“I think we had a little bit of that. We had a great crowd, and it took us a little while to get going,” Jillson said. “It’s early, and we’re learning how to play together and what our strengths and weaknesses are.”

TWU (1-0) rallied from a one-point halftime deficit against Harding, which was a 20-win team last year. Still, Jillson knows the Pioneers will need to improve before hosting the annual Pioneer Premiere tournament this weekend.

In the two-day event, TWU will host Western New Mexico at 7 p.m. Friday and Pittsburg (Kan.) State at 4 p.m. Saturday. The Gorillas have defeated Lone Star Conference power Central Oklahoma already this season.

“These will be two good in-region opponents on our home floor,” Jillson said.

Tarleton State also will compete in the tournament, playing prior to TWU each day. The Tex-Anns will meet Pittsburg State on Friday and WNMU on Saturday.

Volleyball

TWU falls to Angelo State

TWU saw its season end with a five-set loss to Angelo State in the first round of the LSC postseason tournament on Thurs-day.

Still, Pioneers head coach Shelly Barberee was pleased with the resiliency of her team, which improbably entered the tournament as the No. 6 seed after sitting in 11th place in the league standings with just two matches left in the regular season.

“We weren’t sure if we were going to make it or not,” Bar-beree said. “I was happy that we got there and competed well. It went back and forth.”

It was the seventh straight appearance in the LSC tournament for the Pioneers, who finished the year with a 16-17 overall record.

They will lose three seniors, including outside hitter Danielle Pegues and setter Heather Maddox. Jessica Crow, a four-year starter at setter, will join the basketball team this winter and return as a student assistant coach in volleyball next fall, Barberee said.

TWU receives LSC honors

Crow and Alyson Harlan each were named as second-team all-conference selections during the league tournament last weekend.

Crow led TWU with 693 assists and posted 13 double-doubles this season, including two matches in which she posted a career-high 22 digs. She has more than 3,400 career assists.

Harlan was the Pioneers’ top offensive player with 268 kills and 38 service aces. She also was second on the team with 299 digs.

Gymnastics

Pioneers sign twin recruits

TWU’s two newest recruits are a lot alike. The Pioneers have signed twins Courtney and Tori Cochefski, who hail from suburban Chicago, head coach Frank Kudlac said.

TWU assistant coach Lisa Klein, who recruited the pair to TWU, said both sisters are solid all-around gymnasts with a specialty in uneven bars, which was a point of emphasis for the Pioneers in recruiting this season.

“It is a little strange that their strengths are both on bars, but they have different personalities,” Klein said. “They’re extremely well-rounded girls. I think they will both contribute on bars immediately.”

Kudlac said TWU might try to sign a third gymnast for the 2011 season, but will likely wait until the spring signing period in April.

Soccer

Holovach honored again

TWU defender Natalie Holovach has been named to the Daktronics All-South Central Region Women’s Soccer Team for the second straight season.

Holovach, a junior from Flower Mound, has started all 37 games in her two seasons with the Pioneers and has been the team’s top defender both years.

TODD JORGENSON can be reached at 940-566-6871. His e-mail address is tjorgenson@dentonrc.com .