Oct. 29, 2004

Final Stats

DENVER - The University of Arkansas-Little Rock held the University of Denver volleyball team to a season-low .039 hitting percentage and recorded 16 team blocks in a 3-1 (30-27, 17-30, 19-30, 21-30) victory over the Pioneers Friday night in Hamilton Gymnasium. The loss drops Denver to 10-12 overall, 4-6 in the Sun Belt Conference. UALR improves to 11-11, 6-5.

The match got started on the right foot for the Pioneers, who won the first game with a 19-14 kills advantage and .256 hitting percentage. Junior Amanda Millard (Southlake, Texas) had a game-high eight kills in the first game, helping the Pioneers to a 30-27 win.

The first game loss seemed to spark the Trojans, who trailed in the second game 2-1 before running off four consecutive points and essentially taking over the match. UALR held the Pioneers to a -.028 hitting percentage in the second game and followed that up with an even better defensive showing in the third, holding Denver to a -.194 hitting mark to take a 2-1 match lead.

Denver had its chances in the fourth game but were unable to climb out of an early deficit as the Pioneers lost just their second match at home all season. The Pioneers fell to two games under .500 for the first time since Sept. 17.

"Our outside hitters had a tough night tonight and no one else really stepped up for us," head coach Beth Kuwata said. "Give them credit, they played good defense and blocked us very well. We knew coming in that defense could decide it and they did a better job at that than we did."

Three Pioneers recorded double digits in kills, led by Millard's 14. Freshman Alyta Baris (Belvidere, Ill.) had the best match of her young career with a career-high 11 kills and a team-high .273 hitting percentage and freshman Kim Muller (Ballwin, Mo.) also had 11 for Denver.

Denver finishes its two-match homestand on Sunday, Oct. 31 when it hosts New Mexico State at 1 p.m.