Oct. 22, 2004

Box Score

MIAMI - Despite a 73 kills the University of Denver volleyball team fell to Florida International, 3-2 (25-30, 30-24, 30-26, 25-30, 14-16), on Friday in Sun Belt Conference play. Denver's loss breaks its two-game winning streak and drops the Pioneers to 10-10 overall and 4-5 in the SBC. The Golden Panthers improve to 3-16, 2-6.

The Pioneers had five players in double figures in kills, led by 17 from freshman Kim Muller (Ballwin, Mo.). Muller and junior Amanda Millard (Southlake, Texas), who had 14 kills, tied for a match-high nine blocks apiece. Denver setter sophomore Shannon Parker (Woodridge, Ill.) just missed out on a triple-double with 50 assists, 12 kills and nine digs.

"We just couldn't control the outsides and we played for it in the end," head coach Beth Kuwata said. "It is a heartbreaking loss, but we will continue to get better beginning on Sunday at practice."

FIU led from start to finish in game one, taking the first four points and never looking back for a 30-25 victory. The Golden Panthers out-hit Denver .395 to .256 in the game.

In game two, the Pioneers rebounded with a 30-24 decision to level the match. Denver committed just three attack errors in the game to FIU's 11. Junior Kristin Halt (St. Charles, Ill.) helped put a stop to the Golden Panther defensive effort with five kills.

Denver grabbed the match lead in a mistake-filled game three in which each team made 11 errors and FIU held a slight .077-.073 hitting advantage. The lead changed hands five times in the early stages until the Pioneers, down 13-12, won six-straight points to open up the game. FIU brought it back to within two on a few occasions and as late as 28-26, but the visitors held on for the 30-26 win. Muller and Parker each had five kills to lead the Pioneers.

Both teams improved drastically in an exciting fourth game which FIU won 30-25. Freshman Alyssa Hampton (Parkville, Mo.) had a game-high six kills for Denver, which out-hit FIU .500 to .441. The score was level 12 times and there were seven lead changes in the game. The Golden Panthers took control late, winning eight of the final ten points en route to the victory.

Game five was equally as exciting with 12 tie scores and six lead changes. FIU held a two-point advantage on two occasions (3-1 and 12-10) before winning the game at 16-14.

The Pioneers return to action Tuesday, October 26, when they travel to Fort Collins, Colo. to battle instate rival Colorado State at 7 p.m.