Box Score DENVER -- The University of Denver volleyball team limited Marshall to a .010 team hitting percentage in handing the Thundering Herd a 3-0 sweep (15-12, 15-2, 15-5) Saturday afternoon in the Denver Invitational. Earlier in the morning Butler defeated Fresno State in five games (8-15, 15-9, 15-2, 7-15, 15-7) to set up a championship showdown between Butler and Denver at 7:30 p.m. Saturday night. With the win Denver improves to 5-5 and is at .500 for the first time this season. Marshall fell to 2-8.
Senior outside hitter Sarah Kaye (Aurora, Colo. / Smoky Hill) notched a match-high-tying 11 kills while junior OH Kellie Savage (Arvada, Colo. / Arvada West) added 10 kills. Freshman RS Jenn Karas (Granby, Colo. / Middle Park) had a season-high-tying 12 digs while junior setter Clarice Golesh (Lakewood, Colo. / Mullen) controlled the net with four blocks and a match-high 29 assists.
Wendy Williams had 11 kills for Marshall, which hit -.148 in the last two games of the match.
"We put pressure on the other side of the net today and waited for their mistakes," said head coach Beth Kuwata. "We blocked well, controlled the net and didn't let the ball come over to our side much."
In the morning's first match, Butler (7-3) handed Fresno State (6-4) its second straight five-game loss after Denver pulled out a thriller against FSU Friday night. Andrea King led BU with a match-high 18 kills.
The Butler/Denver title tilt is preceded by a 5 p.m. between Fresno State and Marshall for third place.
DENVER VOLLEYBALL
Denver Invitational at Denver, Colo. (Hamilton Gymnasium)
MATCH 3: Butler 3, Fresno State 2 1 2 3 4 5Butler (7-3) 8 15 15 7 15Fresno State (6-4) 15 9 2 15 7BUTLER: Kills 54 (Andrea King 18); Digs 49 (Kylie Galbraith 13); Blocks 12.0 (King 7); Assists 46 (Galbraith 43).FRESNO STATE: Kills 49 (Shauna McQuaid 12); Digs 61 (Taneisha Tilque 12); Blocks 7.0 (McQuaid 3); Assists 47 (Chelsy Duley 33).T: 1:42. A: N/A.MATCH 4: DENVER 3, Marshall 0 1 2 3Marshall (2-8) 12 2 5DENVER (5-5) 15 15 15MARSHLL: Kills 29 (Wendy Williams 11); Digs 42 (Jodi Fick 13); Blocks 1.0 (Sara Boyles 1); Assists 28 (Andrea Kastein 27).DENVER: Kills 36 (Sarah Kaye 11, Kellie Savage 10); Digs 41 (Jenn Karas 12); Blocks 7.0 (Clarice Golesh 4); Assists 33 (Golesh 29).T: 1:20. A: 96.
