FORT WORTH, Texas The University of Denver volleyball team combined for 18 service aces against TCU on Saturday evening, but fell in five games, 3-2 (30-28, 31-33, 30-27, 28-30, 12-15), to the Horned Frogs at the Molten/LaQuinta Invitational.

“This was by far the best match we played in the tournament,” said head coach Beth Kuwata. “We did some things today that we will use later in the season. I think, despite the loss, we can really build our season around this match.”

Freshman setter Kresson Vreeman (Raymond, Minn.) led DU with seven aces on the night, while fellow freshman Kacie Wikierak (Crystal Lake, Ill.) had four.

Four Pioneers were in double-digits in kills. Senior Kim Muller (Ballwin, Mo.) led Denver with 23 kills and junior Holly Benson (Colorado Springs, Colo.) had 20 kills and 24 digs. Senior Alyssa Hampton (Parkville, Mo.) and junior Kerry Porter (Western Springs, Ill.) had 13 kills each.

DU (4-5) won the first game of the match, 30-28, after capitalizing on three Horned Frogs (10-1) errors, to go up 28-26 late in the frame.

The Pioneers trailed by as many as 10 points in the second game before going on an 8-2 run to tie the game, 30-30. A kill by Benson put DU up 31-30, but TCU responded with a kill and tallied points on back-to-back Pioneer errors to give the Horned Frogs the 33-31 win.

Trailing 7-6 in the third game, the Pioneers went on a 7-0 run, including four consecutive service aces by Vreeman, putting Denver up 13-7. DU held on for the 30-27 win.

The Pioneers tied the fourth game, 28-28, despite being down by four points most of the frame. TCU tallied back-to-back kills to close out the game for the 30-28 win.

In the pivotal fifth game of the match, the Pioneers and Horned Frogs had 10 ties and exchanged the lead seven others. DU led 11-9 on a Wikierak service ace, but TCU reeled off three straight points to go up 12-11. The game was knotted 12-12 on a Horned Frog error, but TCU closed out the game on a 3-0 run to win, 15-12, and win the match.

DU faced Lamar (5-7) earlier in the day, falling to the Cardinals in four, 3-1 (26-30, 30-22, 26-30, 26-30). The Pioneers led Lamar in kills, hitting percentage, digs, blocks and assists.

Benson had 20 kills and 22 digs against the Cardinals and added three aces and five blocks. Hampton had 18 kills, while Muller had 11 kills and six blocks. Redshirt sophomore Clare Maxwell (Western Springs, Ill.) led DU with 46 assists.

Benson was DU’s representative on the Molten/LaQuinta Invitational all-tournament team.

The University of Denver volleyball team returns to action at the Pioneer Classic, beginning Friday, Sept. 14 against No. 13 Ohio at 11 a.m.