DENVER For the first time in its Division I history the University of Denver volleyball team has won 20 matches in a season by sweeping Louisiana at Monroe on Monday evening, 3-0 (30-17, 30-12, 30-20), in Sun Belt Conference action in Hamilton Gymnasium.

“We’ve talked the last three matches that good teams find a way to win and we just continue to find new ways to win,” head coach Beth Kuwata said. “Getting to 20 wins is a milestone every program tries to hit in a given season. For the first time it wasn’t one of our goals we set preseason. I think it’s a significant accomplishment with the schedule we have had.”

Denver (20-11, 14-3 SBC) and ULM (1-28, 0-15 SBC) battled early in game one, but the Pioneers went on runs of 7-1 and 6-2 to win the set, 30-17. DU benefited from the Warhawks’ 16 errors, tallying 14 points off the errors. Denver forced ULM into 10 attacking errors, while DU registered 15 kills in the frame. The Pioneers had five blocks in the first game. Senior Kim Muller (Ballwin, Mo.) hit .571 in the frame, while junior Holly Benson (Colorado Springs, Colo.) had six kills.

The Pioneers came storming out in game two, getting out to a 9-0 lead. Denver led by as many as 19 at 28-9 before going on to the 30-12 win. ULM hit -.108 in the frame with five kills and nine attack errors, while DU registered 16 kills for a .282 attack percentage. DU doubled up the Warhawks with 11 assists to ULM’s five. Benson added five more kills in the set.

The Warhawks made a run at the Pioneers to start game three, leading DU 4-3 early. With the set tied at 4-4, the Pioneers ripped off a 6-0 run to take a 10-4 lead. Denver never looked back, going on to win the game, 30-20. DU recorded 20 kills in the game, hitting its best attack percentage of the match, .318.

Benson led all players with 15 kills and Muller hit above .400 for her third straight match with .529. Freshman Kresson Vreeman (Raymond, Minn.) had 36 assists and freshman Kacie Wikierak (Crystal Lake, Ill.) was tops with 16 digs.

Denver’s homestand continues as it wraps up the SBC regular season against North Texas on Saturday, Nov. 10 at 7 p.m. in Hamilton Gym. DU will host the SBC Championships Nov. 15-17.