Oct. 1, 2006

Box Score

DENVER - The University of Denver volleyball team needed four games to win its second Sun Belt Conference game of the season, as DU dropped Western Kentucky, 3-1, Sunday afternoon at Hamilton Gym, 22-30, 30-22, 30-28 and 31-29. DU improved to 9-6 overall and 2-2 in the SBC, while WKU fell to 14-7 and 3-1. It was just the fourth time in SBC play that the Pioneers have beaten the Lady Toppers.

Denver was led by junior Kim Muller (Ballwin, Mo.), who recorded 19 kills and sophomore Clare Maxwell (Western Springs, Ill.) with 53 assists. Sophomore Holly Benson (Colorado Springs, Colo.) and senior Lisa Hunter (St. Louis, Mo.) had 13 kills apiece. Junior Alyssa Hampton (Parkville, Mo.) posted a match-high 26 digs and two aces.

"After Friday night we came out and played really well," Muller said. "Western Kentucky is always a rival match for us and we took our frustrations from our loss to Middle Tennessee out on the court and it showed."

Western Kentucky led by as many as 11 points in game one and cruised to the 30-22 win. DU recorded a .406 hitting percentage, as the Pioneers took the game, 30-22. Muller contributed seven kills in the game and was part of two blocks. Hunter and Benson recorded five kills apiece as DU held off a charging Western Kentucky team for the 30-28 win in game three. In game four, the Lady Toppers got out to an early lead but Denver battled back to tie it up at 27-27 and went on to win, 31-29. Junior Alyta Baris (Belvidere, Ill.) and sophomore Kerry Porter (Western Springs, Ill.) blocked a WKU shot for the match-winning point.

"I knew coming into this match that the win would come down to the middle blockers," head coach Beth Kuwata said. "I was very pleased with how ours played. After Friday's match with Middle Tennessee, I was very happy to see us come out and play composed and confident."

Western Kentucky was led by Megan Argabright with 25 kills.

The Pioneers take a break from SBC play to head to Fort Collins, Colo., Wednesday, Oct. 4, for a 7 p.m. match against Colorado State.