Box Score MIAMI, Fla. (Oct. 29) - The University of Denver volleyball team held off 35 kills from Nirvana Kos as the Pioneers came back from two games to none down to defeat Florida International in five games (6-15, 11-15, 15-13, 17-15, 15-12) in Sun Belt Conference action Sunday afternoon at Golden Panther Arena in Miami. With the win, the Pioneers are now 16-11 and 9-3 in the Sun Belt and are in sole possession of the West Division lead after Louisiana-Lafayette's four-game loss Saturday night at New Orleans.
The Pioneers had match point against them down 14-10 in the fourth game, but the Pioneers got four blocks from freshman middle blocker Andrea Baron (West Vancouver, British Columbia / West Vancouver Secondary HS) and four kills from sophomore outside hitter Lulu Sewell (Gardnerville, Nev. / Douglas HS) to take seven out of the last eight points and post the 17-15 fourth-game win.
Kos had a hand in the last two points of the match. On Denver's first match point in the fifth game, she posted her 35th kill to bring the score within 14-12. On the next point, Kos was called in the net on a tip attempt, and under the fifth-game rally scoring format, Denver was awarded the point and the match.
Sewell led the Pioneers with 18 kills and also posted 10 digs for her sixth double-double in her last eight matches, while junior OH Kellie Savage (Arvada, Colo. / Arvada West HS) had 16 kills and 10 digs. Freshman defensive specialist Ashlynn Andrus (Colorado Springs, Colo. / Rampart HS) had a career-high 17 digs to lead the Pioneers in that category.
"We are fortunate to come out of this match with a win," said head coach Beth Kuwata. "You know their go-to person is going to get the ball a lot, and we just didn't do a good job of defending her until the very end. Once we did that, the momentum completely swung our way. Andrea Baron was a huge factor at the end of the match and did a tremendous job blocking their top player."
The Pioneers return home this weekend for their final home matches of the season. Denver takes on New Orleans on Friday, Nov. 3 at 6 p.m., then holds its Senior Day to honor Sarah Kaye next Sunday, Nov. 5 at 1 p.m. Both matches will be held in Hamilton Gymnasium.
DENVER VOLLEYBALL
at Miami, Fla. (Golden Panther Arena)
DENVER 3, Florida International 2
1 2 3 4 5DENVER (16-11, 9-3 Sun Belt) 6 11 15 17 15Florida International (13-13, 5-7 Sun Belt) 15 15 13 15 12
DENVER: Kills 62 (Lulu Sewell 18, Kellie Savage 16);
Digs 73 (Ashlynn Andrus 17, Clarice Golesh 16, Sewell 10, Savage 10, Jenn Karas 10);
Blocks 12.0 (Andrea Baron 7);
Assists 56 (Golesh 47).
FIU:
Kills 85 (Nirvana Kos 35, Adriana Fundora 20, Jennifer Owens 12, Charlyn Ball-Llovera 11);
Digs 89 (Ball-Llovera 20, Melissa Byrus 18, Sareh Seyedkazemi 18, Fundora 12, Elizabeth Baldwin 12);
Blocks 6.0 (Byrus 5);
Assists 76 (Baldwin 64).
T: 2:10. A: 132.
