Box Score

DENVER The University of Denver volleyball team swept Sun Belt Conference opponent Louisiana-Lafayette, 3-0 (30-14, 30-23, 32-30), Sunday afternoon in Hamilton Gymnasium.

“We played hard today,” head coach Beth Kuwata said. “I was happy with how we competed and the fact we didn’t give up in the third game.”

After being tied early in the first game, Denver (19-11, 13-3 SBC) took control. The Pioneers closed out the game on a 14-3 run, recording four points off service aces, including back-to-back-to-back aces by junior Holly Benson (Colorado Springs, Colo.). DU had seven aces in the game and committed just four attack errors.

Trailing 16-14 in game two, junior Kerry Porter (Western Springs, Ill.) and senior Alyta Baris (Belvidere, Ill.) registered back-to-back kills to knot the game. Senior Alyssa Hampton (Parkville, Mo.) followed with another kill to give DU the lead at 17-16. ULL (4-27, 3-13 SBC) tied the game at 18-18, but Denver continued its 10-3 run, to go up 24-19. The Pioneers went on to win the game, 30-23. Porter led the Pioneers in the frame hitting 7-of-8 for an .875 hitting percentage. The Ragin’ Cajuns recorded 10 total errors in the game.

Trailing 22-18 in the third game the Pioneers mounted a 5-1 run to tie it at 23-23. Senior Kim Muller (Ballwin, Mo.) had two kills in the run. DU and ULL stayed close, tying the match seven times afterwards, with the last at 30-30. Hampton recorded a solo block to give DU a 31-30 lead and Hampton set up Benson for the final kill of the game, 32-30. Denver had five blocks in the game.

Porter led the way for DU with 13 kills and five blocks. Muller added 12 kills. Freshman Kacie Wikierak (Crystal Lake, Ill.) had a match-high 15 digs. Hampton contributed 13 digs.

Prior to the game DU recognized its three seniors, Baris, Hampton and Muller, in senior day activities.

Denver’s homestand continues against Louisiana at Monroe on Monday, Nov. 5 at 7 p.m. in Hamilton Gymnasium.