Oct. 25, 2003

Box Score

DENVER - The University of Denver volleyball team overcame a two games to one deficit and recorded an 11-6 kill advantage in the deciding fifth game as the Pioneers snapped a two-match losing streak with a hard-fought 3-2 (30-23, 26-30, 25-30, 30-27, 15-11) win over Florida International Saturday night in Hamilton Gymnasium. The win improves Denver's overall record to 15-9 on the season, 6-3 in Sun Belt Conference play. Florida International drops to 11-11, 3-6.

Denver grabbed the win in the first game thanks in part to a team-high five kills from junior Kelli Rudelson (Bellaire, Texas) and 10 unforced errors by the Golden Panthers. The Pioneers recorded a .250 attack percentage in the game and held FIU to just a .108 percentage in the 30-23 win. The Pioneers led by as many as seven points in the game and never trailed after taking a 134-12 lead halfway through.

In the second game the Pioneers actually had a 17-15 kill advantage but lost a 30-26 decision as FIU went on a 9-4 run with the game tied at 15-all to even the match a one game apiece. Freshman Lisa Hunter (St. Louis, Mo.) led the Pioneers with six kills in the game but the Pioneers had 10 attacking errors and three service errors in the loss.

The third game was all FIU as the Panthers had their best hitting game of the match with 21 kills and a .340 attack percentage in a 30-25 win. Julie Doan had a team-high seven kills for the Panthers as Denver blew an 11-3 advantage early on. Florida International went on a 13-5 run at that point and tied the match at 16-all before taking the lead for good at 25-24.

In the fourth game the Pioneers bounced back for a 30-27 win thanks to a team-high seven kills from sophomore Kristin Halt (St. Charles, Ill.). The Pioneers trailed early on in the game but were able to force a deciding fifth game after outscoring FIU 6-3 after the game was knotted at 24-all.

In the fifth game the Pioneers held an 11-6 kill advantage and recorded a .409 attack percentage, easily their best hitting game of the match. After falling behind 1-0, Denver then scored six of the next eight points for a 6-3 lead they would never surrender in a 15-11 win.

"First of all this is probably the most important match we've played because of what's happened the last two weeks," head coach Beth Kuwata said. "For us to gut one out like this shows me we're staying in the right direction. Our serving game was good and we wanted to keep them out of their system and I think we were able to do that in games four and five. I was happy to see us find a way to win tonight.

Denver is next in action next Friday night, Oct. 31 when they travel to take on New Mexico State at 7:30 p.m.

...PIONEERS VOLLEYBALL...