Oct. 28, 2001

Box Score

DENVER - Sophomore Olympia Hughes (Casper, Wyo. / Natrona County HS) led a balanced attack with 14 kills, and added a career-high-tying 19 digs to lead the University of Denver to a 3-1 (30-23, 27-30, 30-19, 30-24) win over Florida International in Sun Belt Conference volleyball action Sunday afternoon in Hamilton Gymnasium.

All six Denver starters posted double-figure totals in kills, and five of the six posted double-doubles. Sophomore Andrea Baron (West Vancouver, British Columbia / West Vancouver HS) was the lone starter not to make that distinction, but the middle blocker did lead all players with a season-high-tying nine blocks to go with her 12 kills.

Denver (10-12, 5-6 Sun Belt) broke out of the gate strong, hitting at a solid .333 clip in taking the first game 30-23. FIU stormed back in the second with strong hitting and defense to win the game 30-19, and the teams were knotted at 15-all when the Golden Panthers (16-6, 6-4) were assessed their first of two red cards for unsportsmanlike conduct. Denver took advantage of the two points awarded for the violations, and used that momentum and its most efficient hitting of the afternoon to win the third game, 30-19. In total, the Pioneers hit at a blazing .441 clip over the last two games.

"This was by far our most comprehensive match of the season," said head coach Beth Kuwata. "We distributed the ball evenly this afternoon, and got the ball to our middles a lot more today, and the offense clicked. Defensively, we did a tremendous job, if we weren't blocking balls down, we dug them up."

Senior setter Clarice Golesh-Burch (Lakewood, Colo. / Mullen HS) had her best night of the season quarterbacking the offense, as the squad hit a season-high .333 in the match. She totaled 53 assists on the afternoon and dumped efficiently, adding 10 kills on a .643 hitting percentage. She also was just three digs shy of her third career triple-double. Freshman middle blocker Mary England (Castle Rock, Colo. / Chaparral HS) added 11 kills and 12 digs for her second career double-double, senior outside hitter Kellie Savage (Arvada, Colo. / Arvada West HS) posted 11 kills and 11 digs, and sophomore outside hitter Lulu Sewell (Gardnerville, Nev. / Douglas HS) added 13 kills and 10 digs.

The Pioneers step out of conference play for the final time before the conference tournament when they travel down I-25 to face Air Force on Tuesday at 7 p.m. Please note that spectators will not be allowed on the grounds of the Air Force Academy without valid military or Department of Defense identification.