Sept. 23, 2001

Box Score

LAFAYETTE, La. - Janaina Gomes led all players with 21 kills and Clarice Laires added 20 as the University of Louisiana-Lafayette outlasted the University of Denver, 3-2 (30-28, 28-30, 30-22, 28-30, 15-13), in Sun Belt Conference volleyball action Sunday afternoon.

After the two teams traded the first four games, Louisiana-Lafayette (7-3, 2-0 Sun Belt) built a seemingly insurmountable 11-5 lead in the fifth and deciding game to 15. Yet the Pioneers (4-6, 0-2 Sun Belt) somehow fought back to tie the game at 13-all before the Ragin' Cajuns pulled away with the five-game win. The Pioneers were seeking their second win in three tries in Lafayette, but have now lost the last four meetings between the schools overall.

Denver was led for the second straight match by freshman middle blocker Mary England (Castle Rock, Colo. / Chaparral HS), who slammed a career-high 17 kills and added career-high totals of 10 digs and six blocks. For the weekend, England hit .405 with a team-high 23 kills (2.56 kpg), 20 digs (2.22 dpg) and a team-high nine blocks (1.00 bpg).

"As we've done many times lately, we dug too big of a hole for ourselves before we decided to play," said head coach Beth Kuwata. "We need to play well consistently if we are going to win these kinds of matches. Mary England came off the bench in a tough situation Friday night and performed quite well, and with her play the last two matches, she's earned a starting spot."

The Pioneers return home next weekend for their first home contest after a nearly month-long stretch away from Hamilton Gymnasium. Denver will host South Alabama this Friday, Sept. 28, at 7 p.m., before playing New Orleans next Sunday, Sept. 30, at 1 p.m. For ticket information, call (303) 830-8497.