Mountaineers Down East Texas A&M in UNT Invitational Opener

Thursday, September 17

Denton, Texas

5 p.m.

West Virginia University

5-3,0-0Big 12

East Texas A&M

6-5,0-0Southland

Team	1	2	3	4	Final F
East Texas A&M	17	25	21	20	1
West Virginia	25	21	25	25	3

Macie Smith goes for kill against East Texas A&M

Mountaineers Down East Texas A&M in UNT Invitational Opener

September 17, 2026 08:13 PM | Volleyball

Box Score Season Stats

By: Farris Murad

MORGANTOWN, W.Va. – The West Virginia University volleyball team (5-3, 0-0 Big 12) opened the UNT Invitational with a 3-1 victory over East Texas A&M (6-5, 0-0 Southland) on Thursday afternoon at the UNT Volleyball Center.

The Mountaineers earned the win by set scores of 25-17, 21-25, 25-21 and 25-20.

Sophomore outside hitter Anna Barr returned to her home state with excellence, recording 17 kills on 26 attacks while hitting an impressive .577 and adding two blocks. Senior outside hitter Nina Horning added 14 kills while hitting .263 for the match.

West Virginia controlled the opening set from the start, using a 7-0 run to turn a 2-5 deficit into an 8-5 advantage. The Mountaineers maintained the lead throughout the remainder of the frame before closing out its seventh first-set victory of the season, 25-17. Barr and Horning combined for seven kills in the opening set.

East Texas A&M responded in the second, hitting .375 as a team to even the match at one set apiece with a 25-21 victory.

WVU regained control in the third set, building a 15-10 advantage behind three consecutive kills from Barr and an ace from freshman defensive specialist/libero Cassie Bruns. The Lions battled back to tie the set at 19, but the Mountaineers scored four of the final five points, including three more kills from Barr, to secure the set, 25-21.

West Virginia came out strong in the fourth set, jumping ahead 6-2 and extending its lead to 12-6 while hitting .355. East Texas A&M trimmed the deficit to three at 18-15, but WVU answered with a 6-2 run to move within one point of the match. Freshman outside hitter Macie Smith then delivered the match-clinching kill, giving the Mountaineers a 25-20 victory.

Senior setter Alexis Finnvold directed the WVU offense with 36 assists, while freshman defensive specialist/libero Reagan Turk led the defensive effort with 20 digs. Senior middle blocker Maddy McGath added four kills and five blocks, while Horning contributed nine digs.

As a team, West Virginia hit .244 for the match and held East Texas A&M to a .184 hitting percentage. The Mountaineers finished with seven total blocks and eight service aces.

West Virginia continues play at the UNT Invitational on Friday, Sept. 18, against host North Texas at 8 p.m. ET.

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