Oct. 16, 2005

Box Score

DENVER - After suffering a 3-0 sweep Friday at Western Kentucky, the University of Denver volleyball team was unable to rebound Sunday at Middle Tennessee, falling three games to one by the score of 30-18, 16-30, 27-30, 16-30. DU drops to 10-7 overall and 4-2 in the conference.

Sophomore middle blocker Kim Mueller (Baldwin, Mo.) led DU with 11 kills and two blocks. Senior outside hitter Lisa Hunter (St. Louis, Mo.) notched 10 kills and three blocks.

It was a tough weekend for the Pioneers, who posted back-to-back losses for the first time since Sept. 10. Facing the No. 1 and No. 2 teams in the east division of the Sun Belt in one weekend, head coach Beth Kuwata anticipated both matches being a large challenge.

"Coming into this weekend, there was no question that both Western Kentucky and Middle Tennessee were going to be a huge test," Kuwata said. "We knew exactly what it was going to take to come out on top, but we were unable to deliver."

Denver jumped on top first with a 30-18 victory in game one. The Pioneers tallied 12 kills and only two errors, while Middle Tennessee, who had 13 kills, took themselves out the game by committing 10 errors. However, the Blue Raiders took control of the remaining three games with a defensive intensity that DU just could not match.

"Offensively, they made us work for every single point we got," Kuwata commented. "We did not return the favor. We were simply out-worked on defense. Middle Tennessee ran the match at a faster momentum which had an adverse effect on us getting to the block on time."

The Blue Raiders held a substantial advantage in blocks (20-14) and digs (72-51). Middle Tennessee libero Alicia Lemau'u had an incredible day collecting 31 digs alone.

The Pioneers take a short break from conference action with a mid-week match at Air Force Wednesday. DU returns to conference action Friday, hosting Florida International at 7:00 p.m. in Hamilton Gym.