DENVER The University of Denver volleyball team posted a 3-1 (30-24, 30-20, 31-33, 30-26) win over Auburn on Friday night to open its 2007 home season at the University of Denver Invitational.  

“The biggest thing was for us to get our first home win of the season and set the tone for the rest of the season,” head coach Beth Kuwata said.

The Pioneers - coming off a 3-1 win over Seton Hall - won their second consecutive match as junior Holly Benson (Colorado Springs, Colo.) recorded 16 kills and 12 digs, along with three block assists. Senior Kim Muller (Ballwin, Mo.) recorded 13 kills and was in on eight blocks, while junior Kerry Porter (Western Springs, Ill.) had 10 kills. Senior Alyssa Hampton (Parkville, Mo.) had nine kills, five digs and two blocks.

“I am most pleased with my outside hitter,” Kuwata said. “Both Alyssa and Holly did an excellent job limiting their errors and had a great match.”

Denver (2-2) recorded 63 kills to Auburn’s 59. The Pioneers had 10 blocks on the night. DU hit for .232 percent and had a better sideout percentage then the Tigers (3-1) in three of the four games.

The first game of the match had 12 ties and four lead changes. After a back-and-forth battle, tied 16-16, Hampton recorded back-to-back kills, giving DU some cushion. Hampton then took over serving the Pioneers and rattled off three points, giving DU 22-17 lead. The Pioneers prevailed, 30-24.

In the second frame the Pioneers had a bit more breathing room, holding the Tigers to a .000 hitting percentage while DU hit .344. Porter’s ace closed out the game for the DU win, 30-20.

DU and Auburn again engaged in a heated battle in the third game, exchanging the lead three times, with 14 ties. Despite recording their lowest hitting percentage of the match (.191), the Pioneers had a two-point lead, 29-27, but Auburn countered, with a kill and a DU error to tie the game, 29-29. Denver went up 30-29 on a Benson kill, but Auburn returned the score with a kill. Benson recorded her lone ace of the match to give Denver a 31-30 lead, but Auburn reeled off the next two points for the 33-31 win, forcing the fourth game.

Denver came out rolling in the fourth game, getting out to a 4-0 lead early. Auburn pulled to within one at 10-9, but DU took control, outscoring the Tigers, 12-8, in the middle of the frame. Auburn could not get any closer then four points in the game, as DU won, 30-26.

The University of Denver Invitational continues on Saturday, Sept. 1 at 10 a.m. with Auburn and Wichita State. Denver takes on DePaul at noon. The evening session begins at 5 p.m. as Auburn faces DePaul. Denver and Wichita State close out the tournament at 7:30 p.m.

Wichita State defeated DePaul in the first game of the day, 3-0.