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If the Mavericks had to pick a theme for the Holiday Inn Crossroads Fall Classic, it would be tough teams. By their third game Saturday morning the Mavs would have face one undefeated team, and one single loss team. Included in that lineup was a dominant Texas Woman's University out of Denton Texas. The TWU Pioneers were undefeated coming in to the match Saturday. But after losing their first match of the day to Grand Canyon, the Pioneers were 6-1, including a trampling of Western State College of Colorado Friday evening.

Early on in the first set saw some of the closest play of the tournament. By halfway in the first set neither team had held a lead by more than three points. TWU would close up again at the first timeout, evening the score at 18-18. Out of the timeout the set stayed tied. Sophomore Melissa Hess was a force to be reckonAnchored with at the net as she denied points for the Pioneers during the first set. Hess led the teams with four kills, and also registered one solo block. Jordyn Moody led the team in assists with seven and had two digs. Megan Rush ended the first set with eight digs.

The second set was not as close as the fist, as some of the Mavericks looked not as fresh as they did in their first set. The Pioneers led consistently throughout the first set as they scored their 20th point. TWU finished in a set when the Mavericks couldn't, winning 25-18, leaving the Pioneers so happy that they danced during the break between sets to 'Call Me Maybe'. The Mavs got out of the second set with Christian Otzen, Melissa Hess, Casey Ball, and Audrey Steinkirchner all tallying five kills each. Jordyn Moody doubled her number of assists from the first to 14 while Megan Rush had 12 digs.

The third set looked nearly identical to the first, with neither team being able to separate themselves. Throughout the entire set the score was either tied, or within two. With the score tied 14 different times in the third set, the game went long and the Mavericks were able to pull it out 28-26 over the Pioneers. Christian Otzen led the team with 11 kills.

The fourth set was easily the longest of the match. Again an incredibly close game between the two teams got even closer as the final points were put on the board. The Mavs caught up to, tied, and passed TWU for the lead as they scored their 24th point. A kill by Christian Otzen would give the set win, and match to the Mavericks.

The Mavericks are back on the floor inside Brownson Arena for their last game of the tournament Saturday evening at 6 p.m. when they take on Oklahoma-Panhandle.