LEXINGTON - Transy Volleyball finished the opening weekend of the 2023 season with a 1-2 record after winning the final game of the weekend in the Transy Fall Invite. The Pioneers defeated an Illinois Wesleyan team that took No. 11 Berry to five sets just a few hours prior to earn the split on Saturday with a sweep of the Titans 25-22, 25-16, 25-18.

The Pioneers Saturday began the same as their Friday night, finding themselves tied after the first two sets, this time against No. 7 Calvin. Transy took the first set 25-22 but couldn't put the Knights away after being up  24-22. Calvin scored four straight points to take a 24-25 lead and would get the eventual 25-27 set two win off back to back attack errors by the Pioneers.

Calvin took set three 22-25 and seemed to have the upper hand on Transy who found themselves down a set, but after being down 11-16 in the fourth set, the Pioneers rode an 8-0 run to get their first lead of the set at 19-16. Transy struggled again to put Calvin away and the Knights would score five of the next six points after trailing 22-20 to earn the match win and finish 3-0 in the tournament.

Cate Scheper reached another milestone in her college career, earning her 900th career kill in the first set. She currently ranks 10th in DIII in active kills. She finished the match with 14, tying Isabella Myers for the team high.

Calvin outhit the Pioneers .234 to .212 and finished the match with five more kills.

Transy turned it around in the final game of the invite, sweeping a scrappy Illinois Wesleyan team in convincing fashion 25-22, 25-16, and 25-18.

The Pioneers dominated all three sets, shaking off a back and forth battle in set one. The Titans couldn't find an answer for the Pioneers attack. Transy outhit the Titans .303 to .140, and stopped IWU's most dominant player in sophomore Taylor French. French led all players the game prior vs Berry with over 20 kills, almost pulling the upset over Berry.

Cate Scheper led the way for Transy with 18 kills, the most for her since last year's Elite Eight game when she also finished with 18.

Kayden Holcomb finished the Transy Fall Invite with 28 kills, ending the final game vs IWU with 10.

"The team came out the last game different. We are starting to identify our identity and apply it," Head Coach Amy Barmore said after her team's win over the Titans. "The last match we did. We do well with energy and learning to maintain it is the goal. They achieved that in the last match. I am super proud of the adversity we overcame this weekend. The bounce back was impressive."

Transy found their identity vs IWU, showing signs of the team that made the Elite Eight run last season. After facing two top 15 ranked opponents, the Pioneers found their groove from the get-go in the final game

"We knew this weekend would be tough. After facing No. 11 Berry and No. 7 Calvin with a hard battle but not having the outcome we wanted, they learned. And that's the most important part. We got better this weekend and we have something to grow. This team will be fun to watch".

Barmore gave praise to Scheper's big game vs IWU. The Junior is already up to 48 kills in her first three games.

"Cate's energy brought the team together. Something clicked with her and it was fun to be a part of. She grew and we all grew this weekend".

Scheper wasn't the only Pioneer to reach a milestone this weekend. 2022 All-American setter Grace Ward earned her 3000th career assist vs Calvin. In her first three seasons Ward has averaged 986.3 kills, and has a chance to make a run for 4000 assists which would break current coach and Transy Volleyball alum Hannah Talker's record of 3,945.

The Pioneers return to action this Wednesday in Danville, Kentucky for a 7 PM match against Centre College. Transy has beaten the Colonels in the last five matchups and looks to make it six before next weekend's Transy Fall Invite.