Nov. 5, 2006

Box Score

New Orleans - The University of Denver volleyball team saw their nine-match winning streak come to an end Sunday afternoon as the squad went five games with New Orleans, losing 3-2, in Sun Belt Conference action (24-30, 23-30, 30-27, 30-27, 13-15). DU falls to 19-10 overall and 12-5 in the SBC, while UNO improves to 21-8 and 10-5.

DU got out to a slow start in game one, but would tie the game up six times before UNO capped off the game with a 3-0 scoring run to win 30-24. DU led early in the second game of the match, but the Privateers took control at 18-15 UNO and went on to the 30-23 win. DU rebounded to win game three 30-27, led by a .282 attack percentage and 17 kills. The Pioneers ripped off a 7-1 run in game four, while New Orleans recorded eight attack errors on the way to DU's 30-27 win. Game five consisted of seven ties and one lead change but the Privateers prevailed, 15-13.

Sophomore Holly Benson (Colorado Springs, Colo.) led DU with 16 kills, two aces, one solo block and three block assists. Senior Lisa Hunter (St. Louis, Mo.) recorded 15 kills and 20 digs in the match. Junior Kim Muller (Ballwin, Mo.) posted 12 kills, one block and four block assists in the match. Sophomore Clare Maxwell (Western Springs, Ill.) recorded a match-high 50 assists.

"This match was almost identical to the match we played in Denver," head coach Beth Kuwata said. "There were lots of momentum swings. We played like we were waiting for something to happen and it never did. When you wait you generally don't come out on the positive end of things."

DU wraps up the regular season Saturday, Nov. 11, against North Texas in Denton, Texas, at 6 p.m. The Mean Green are currently tied with an identical 12-5 record atop the SBC West Division standings and the match will decide who wins the division heading into the SBC tournament that begins Nov. 15 in Denton, Texas.