DENVER The University of Denver volleyball team came from behind to drop Sun Belt Conference foe Florida International on Sunday afternoon, 3-1 (30-32, 30-22, 30-23, 30-20). Denver had four players in double-digit kills and double-digit digs as the Pioneers improved to 10-9 on the year, 4-2 in the SBC, and FIU fell to 11-4 and 6-2.

“As the match wore on we consistently got better,” head coach Beth Kuwata said. “We were about to adapt to their style of play and make changes. When we play aggressive volleyball good things happen. Today was an example of that. Emmy and Porter were a huge boost to our production today.”

Senior Alyssa Hampton (Parkville, Mo.) led Denver with 20 kills and 16 digs, while senior Kim Muller (Ballwin, Mo.) had 19 kills. Junior Holly Benson (Colorado Springs, Colo.) posted another double-double, recording 13 kills and 17 digs. Junior Kerry Porter (Western Springs, Ill.) had a double-double as well with 11 kills and 10 blocks. Freshman Kacie Wikierak (Crystal Lake, Ill.) led all players with 19 digs.

Denver cruised early in game one, getting out to an 18-12 lead before the Golden Panthers staged a 4-0 run to get back in the game. After FIU tied the game at 24-24, Muller gave DU a 25-24 lead on a kill and then the two teams kept the contest close. DU grabbed its final lead of the game at 29-30 on an attack error by Benson. Muller would tie the game at 30-30, but a FIU kill and an error by Denver gave FIU the win, 32-30. Hampton led Denver with eight kills in the game.

The Pioneers and the Panthers kept the second game close in the beginning with FIU pulling out to a 10-6 lead before Coach Kuwata called a timeout. Out of the timeout Denver reeled off four unanswered points to tie the game at 10-10. The Pioneers took the lead at 15-14 on a kill by Benson for the first time since leading 2-1. Denver finished strong, outscoring the Golden Panthers 15-8 to close out the game, 30-22. Muller hit .600 in the game and DU had five blocks in the frame.

DU got out to a 6-2 lead to start game three but FIU went on a 6-1 run to take an 8-7 lead. Coming off the bench for her first action on the season, sophomore Emmy Davidsmeyer (Colorado Springs, Colo.) gave Denver a 10-8 lead with back-to-back kills. Davidsmeyer would contribute two more kills and two blocks as Denver got out to an 18-9 lead. The Golden Panthers would creep back into the match, getting within five but Denver would go on to win the game, 30-23. Davidsmeyer had five kills in the game and was part of two blocks as DU hit .326 in the game and forced FIU into 12 errors.

Muller and Porter combined for seven of the Pioneers’ first eight points as DU got out to an early 8-3 lead. FIU would climb back within three points, but the Pioneers rallied to win 30-20. Muller and Porter combined for 15 of DU’s points in the game and Porter hit 7-of-7 for 1.000 in the frame.

Denver hits the road next week to face Louisiana at Monroe on Thursday, Oct. 11 at 6 p.m. MT in Monroe, La.