TROY, Ala. Junior Holly Benson (Colorado Springs, Colo.) and Senior Kim Muller (Ballwin, Mo.) recorded 20 kills apiece as the University of Denver volleyball team came from behind to beat Troy, 3-1 (28-30, 30-17, 31-29, 30-20) in Sun Belt Conference action Saturday evening in Trojan Arena.

“We found a way to win tonight,” head coach Beth Kuwata said. “We extended rallies and we did what we needed to win points. We managed to stay composed tonight and get the win.”

Denver (15-9, 9-2 SBC) had its best defensive match of the season with 109 digs and 14.5 blocks, while Troy (14-14, 5-7 SBC) had 107 digs and 6.0 blocks. Senior Alyssa Hampton (Parkville, Mo.), Benson and freshman Kacie Wikierak (Crystal Lake, Ill.) each had over 20 digs led by Wikierak’s 29. Muller hit .308 in the match and junior Kerry Porter (Western Springs, Ill.) had 11 kills. The Pioneers combined for 65 kills in the game.

In game one, DU got out to an 18-10 led on a Troy error before the Trojans went on 12-4 run to take the lead, 23-22. Denver regained the lead, 26-25, on a kill by Benson, but the Trojans outscored the Pioneers down the stretch, 5-2, to win the frame, 30-28. Denver hit .160 in the game as Troy capitalized on DU’s 13 errors and added 17 kills.

Denver rallied in the second game, as they jumped out to an early 8-0 lead. The Pioneers would lead by as many as 14 late in the frame while going on to win the game, 30-17. DU recorded 16 kills and tallied points off Troy’s 14 errors for the win.

The Pioneers trailed by as many as three early in the third game but came back to knot the game at 12-12 on a kill by Benson. The two teams would tie the game 12 more times, the last at 29-29, with Denver getting out to just a one-point lead over those 17 points. A kill by Muller and a Troy error gave DU the 31-29 win. Denver had 20 kills on 76 attempts in the frame.

DU trailed twice early to start game four but the Pioneers rallied and extended their lead to 10 on a Troy error. Muller and Benson recorded consecutive kills as the Pioneers won the frame, 30-20. The Pioneer defense held the Trojans to its second negative hitting percentage game of the match, -.025. Denver combined for six blocks in the game.

Denver’s road trip continues at North Texas on Monday, Oct. 22 at 6 p.m.