Box Score MURFREESBORO, Tenn. -- Sophomore outside hitter Lulu Sewell (Gardnerville, Nev. / Douglas HS) slammed a career-high 15 kills and added a career-high 17 digs to lead the University of Denver volleyball team to a thrilling 3-2 (8-15, 15-4, 8-15, 15-8, 15-11) win over Middle Tennessee in Sun Belt Conference action Friday night at the Murphy Center. The win is Denver's fourth straight in conference play and improves the Pioneers' record to 11-9 and 5-2 in the SBC. Middle Tennessee falls to 8-12, 2-5.
Sewell started in place of injured OH Sarah Kaye (Aurora, Colo. / Smoky Hill) and produced her second double-double of the season in the process. Junior OH Kellie Savage (Arvada, Colo. / Arvada West HS) led the Pioneers with 16 kills and 14 digs, and freshman middle blocker Olympia Hughes (Casper, Wyo. / Natrona County HS) shattered her career high by pounding 12 kills and tied her career high with six blocks.
In addition, junior setter Clarice Golesh (Lakewood, Colo. / Mullen HS) handed out a career-high-tying 52 assists and junior MB Kristin Savage (Arvada, Colo. / Arvada West HS) contributed a match-high seven blocks.
Katie Thiesen had a match-high 17 kills and Erin Hillstrom had a match-high 22 digs for Middle Tennessee.
"Obviously things are going to be difficult with Sarah Kaye missing," said head coach Beth Kuwata. "When you miss someone like her, it changes the chemistry of the lineup and you forget how much it affects the little things. But it was good for us to hang in there; we were fortunate to get a win out of this."
The Pioneers conclude their road trip on Sunday with a Sun Belt Conference match at East Division leader Western Kentucky. The match begins at 1 p.m. CDT in Bowling Green, Ky.
DENVER VOLLEYBALLat Murfreesboro, Tenn. (Murphy Center)DENVER 3, Middle Tennessee 2 1 2 3 4 5DENVER (11-9, 5-2) 8 15 8 15 15Middle Tennessee (8-12, 2-5) 15 4 15 8 11DENVER: Kills 68 (Kellie Savage 16, Lulu Sewell 15, Olympia Hughes 14); Digs 80 (Sewell 17, Kristin Savage 15, Kellie Savage 14, Julie Crockett 11,Clarice Golesh 10); Blocks 13.5 (Kr. Savage 7); Assists 58 (Golesh 52).MIDDLE TENNESSEE: Kills 63 (Katie Thiesen 17, Erin Hillstrom 14, Abby Hartup12, Lindsay Pritchard 11); Digs 69 (Hillstrom 22, Hartup 15); Blocks 8.0(Pritchard 5); Assists 60 (Kelly Quinn 39).T: 2:08. A: 88.
