Sept. 2, 2006

Box Score

DENVER - The University of Denver volleyball team won its first match of the season as it posted a 3-1 win over the Northern Arizona Lumberjacks in the second day of competition at the Denver Invitational at Hamilton Gym. DU beat NAU 30-20, 25-30, 30-27 and 35-33 to improve to 1-2 overall, while the Lumberjacks fell to 3-2.

"It was important to get the win today, no matter how ugly or pretty it was," said head coach Beth Kuwata. "Everything after today will be better now that we have this win."

Three Pioneers had double digits kills. Senior Lisa Hunter (St. Louis, Mo.) led the way with 15, while junior Kim Muller (Ballwin, Mo.) and Holly Benson (Colorado Springs, Co.) added 13 apiece. Clare Maxwell (Western Springs, Ill.) chipped in a match-high 55 assists.

In game one of the match, the Pioneers jumped out to an early lead en route to a 30-20 win. DU could not overcome an early deficit to NAU in the second game and fell 30-25. Denver held off a late rally by Northern Arizona for the 30-27 win in game three. In game four, the Pioneers squeezed out the 35-33 win.

In earlier action Saturday, Bowling Green defeated UC Riverside in three games, 30-26, 30-21 and 30-24.

The Denver Invitational wraps up Saturday evening as Northern Arizona takes on Bowling Green at 5 p.m. and the Pioneers play UC Riverside at 7:30 p.m.