• Box Score

DENVER -- The University of Denver volleyball team received a career-high-tying 24 kills from junior outside hitter Kellie Savage (Arvada, Colo. / Arvada West HS) on its way to a 3-1 (15-4, 13-15, 15-12, 15-9) win over Arkansas State in Sun Belt Conference action Friday night at Hamilton Gymnasium. The win is Denver's sixth straight league win and fourth overall and improves the Pioneers to 14-9 and a Sun Belt West Division-leading 7-2 mark. ASU falls to 14-8 and 6-3 in the East Division.

Sophomore outside hitter Lulu Sewell (Gardnerville, Nev. / Douglas HS) had another excellent night, recording 19 kills and 18 digs for her fourth double-double in her last seven matches. Junior setter Clarice Golesh (Lakewood, Colo. / Mullen HS) had 57 assists, 16 digs, nine blocks and seven kills without an attack error.

Denver smoked to a 15-4 game one win on the strength of its 16 team kills and .560 team hitting efficiency. The Lady Indians pounded 30 kills to 25 for the Pioneers in game two to take that game 15-13, but the Pioneers shored up their blocking in the final two games on their way to 21 team blocks.

"We knew that we had to win this match to stay in the conference race," said head coach Beth Kuwata. "When you only play the East Division schools once and you have their two best teams in the same weekend, it's easy to see that these matches are important. We played hard today and really didn't give up too many consecutive points to Arkansas State. Both teams played good volleyball."

Nikki Guerra had 15 kills to lead Arkansas State.

The Pioneers conclude their short homestand on Sunday when they take on Sun Belt East Division leader Arkansas-Little Rock at 1 p.m. in Hamilton Gymnasium.

DENVER VOLLEYBALLat Denver, Colo. (Hamilton Gymnasium)DENVER 3, Arkansas State 1                                1       2       3       4Arkansas State (14-8, 6-3)      4       15      12      9DENVER (14-9, 7-2)              15      13      15      15ARKANSAS STATE: Kills 71 (Nikki Guerra 15, Susanne Snipes 14, Shauna                Standart 13, Michal Evers 13); Digs 74 (Snipes 18, Amy                 Johnson 16, Standart 14, Teddi Chowen 10); Blocks 11.0                 (Evers 4, Kelly Linder 4); Assists 69 (Linder 61).DENVER: Kills 72 (Kellie Savage 24, Lulu Sewell 19, Olympia Hughes         10); Digs 68 (Sewell 18, Clarice Golesh 16, Jenn Karas 14, Kristin         Savage 10); Blocks 21.0 (Golesh 9); Assists 67 (Golesh 57).T: 2:00. A: 166.