Oct. 10, 2003

Box Score

DENVER - Four Pioneers recorded double digits in kills and the University of Denver volleyball team limited Arkansas State to a -.188 hitting percentage in the decisive fifth game as Denver defeated ASU 3-2 (30-32, 30-27, 30-25, 15-4) Friday night in Hamilton Gymnasium. With the win the Pioneers improve to 13-6 overall this season, 4-1 in Sun Belt Conference play. Arkansas State dropped its first conference match of the year and stands at 15-5, 3-1.

Arkansas State edged out the Pioneers in the first game of the match, using a match-high .370 attack percentage and committing just three errors in a 32-30 win. Denver held a 29-28 lead with a chance to close the Lady Indians out but an attack error by Kristen Halt (St. Charles, Ill.) gave them new life and tied the game at 29-all. Another kill from senior Andrea Baron (West Vancouver, B.C.) gave Denver a 30-29 lead and yet another game point but the Pioneers couldn't seal the deal and ASU scored the next three points for the game one win.

In the second game the Pioneers trailed 7-3 early on but fought back to tie the game at 11-all. The two teams traded points for nearly the entire rest of the game until a kill from Baron gave Denver a 25-24 lead they would never relinquish in a 30-27 win. Baron and teammate Kelli Rudelson (Bellaire, Texas) marched the Pioneers to the win in game two, combining for 14 of Denver's 19 kills.

The third game seemed to be the turning point in the match, as the Lady Indians jumped out quickly to an 11-3 lead. But the Pioneers proved to be resilient, as Denver then outscored ASU 6-2 to cut the lead to 13-9 before ASU rebounded to lead 16-12. But Denver went on another run, outscoring the Lady Indians 6-2 and tying the game for the first time at 18-all. The two teams traded points until Denver broke on top for the first time at 24-23 and the Pioneers never trailed again in winning 30-25.

Denver had a chance to finish Arkansas State off in the third game but the Lady Indians proved to be resilient as well, trailing just one time in the game at 4-3 before a 5-0 run gave them an 8-3 lead and eventually a 30-22 win, forcing a decisive fifth game.

Game five was all Denver, as the Pioneers jumped out to a 7-3 lead and never looked back in winning easily, 15-4. The Denver floor defense was spectacular in the fifth game, recording two blocks and limiting Arkansas State to just one kill and a -.188 hitting percentage.

"This was a total team effort," head coach Beth Kuwata said. "In the third game we battled back after trailing early and in the deciding game we really came out and played aggressive. We got some good serving and I couldn't be more proud of how we got the job done tonight."

Denver is next in action on Sunday when they take on SBC West Division-leading New Mexico State at 1 p.m. in Hamilton Gymnasium.