Oct. 26, 2001

Box Score

DENVER - New Mexico State hit .339 as a team and took advantage of poor Denver passing as the Aggies swept to a 30-24, 30-20, 30-21 win over the Pioneers in Sun Belt Conference volleyball action Friday night at Hamilton Gymnasium.

Kristin Webster led all players with 15 kills and hit at a .524 clip to lead New Mexico State (13-8, 9-2 SBC), while the Pioneers (9-12, 4-6) were paced by eight kills apiece from sophomore middle blocker Andrea Baron (West Vancouver, British Columbia / West Vancouver HS) and sophomore right-side hitter Olympia Hughes (Casper, Wyo. / Natrona County HS).

In what would be the closest game of the match, New Mexico State just barely outplayed the Pioneers in a close first game before pulling away down the stretch to the 30-24 win. In game two, the Aggies ratched up their blocking and the Pioneers hit erratically in posting a dismal -.029 hitting percentage as a squad. The third game was played closely early on, as the teams played virtually point for point through a 9-9 tie. New Mexico State slowly inched away before scoring seven of the final eight points to put the match away.

"We played them close as far as serving, blocking and digging was concerned, but their middle blockers dominated the match," said head coach Beth Kuwata. "We didn't have a solution for them, and they ran their offense at will."

With four kills Friday night, senior outside hitter Kellie Savage (Arvada, Colo. / Arvada West HS) moved past former teammate Sarah Kaye for sixth place on the Pioneer career kills list. She now has 943 career kills.

The Pioneers conclude their three-match homestand on Sunday afternoon with a Sun Belt contest against Florida International. First serve is set for noon in Hamilton Gymnasium.