Oct. 12, 2001

Box Score

DENVER - A stellar first game set the tone for the University of Denver volleyball team, as the Pioneers swept Middle Tennessee (30-18, 30-19, 30-28) in Sun Belt Conference action Friday night at Hamilton Gymnasium. The win is Denver's first three-game sweep at home this season, and first overall since Sept. 8.

Denver (8-8, 3-3 SBC) hit a dominating .433 in the first game, as the Pioneers committed just one attack error - a block of a dump attempt by freshman setter Emilee Gihring (Idaho Falls, Idaho), making her first career start.

Seventeen service errors - and their resulting points for Denver in the new rally-scoring format - contributed heavily to the loss for Middle Tennessee (6-12, 2-4 SBC).

"It's good to get back on a winning track," said head coach Beth Kuwata, whose team has now won two straight. "Our consistency and our passing were the keys tonight. At times we had a pretty super team out there. It was good to get all of the kids some playing time. We wanted to establish our home court again, with the travel in the league the way it is right now, we need to take control at home."

For the match, the Pioneers hit .270, the team's best mark of the season. Junior Lulu Sewell (Gardnerville, Nev. / Douglas HS) was Denver's only attacker with double-digit kills (11), but it was the team's accuracy that made the difference. Five different players hit .333 or better, including an errorless .833 performance from sophomore middle blocker Andrea Baron (West Vancouver, British Columbia / West Vancouver HS). Baron also led all players with five blocks.

The Pioneers conclude their three-match homestand on Sunday with a matchup with East Division leader Western Kentucky. First serve in Hamilton Gymnasium is set for 1 p.m.