DENVER, Colo. - Paced by senior Emmy Davidsmeyer's (Colorado Springs, Colo.) 22 kills, the University of Denver volleyball team (14-14, 9-5 SBC) downed visiting New Orleans (15-11, 8-6 SBC) 3-1 on Thursday evening in Hamilton Gymnasium. The win puts the Pioneers on top of the Sun Belt Conference West Division standings with four matches remaining.

"It was a great team effort tonight," said head coach Beth Kuwata. "Our hitters really stepped up tonight and made the necessary plays that helped us pull out a great win. We were limited with our number of substitutions so it was critical that we play well and keep our errors to a minimum, which I think is something that we did tonight."

To go along with Davidsmeyer's 22 kills, senior Alexis Ninos (Cypress, Texas) added 13 kills, while freshman Faimie Kingsley (Brooklyn, N.Y.) finished with 12 kills and a .450 hitting percentage. Returning to the setter position, junior Kresson Vreeman (Raymond, Minn.) finished the night with 47 assists, four kills, eight digs and two blocks.

Defensively, libero Kacie Wikierak (Crystal Lake, Ill.) turned in an impressive 22-dig effort, while Ninos added 11.

Lindsey Loyd led the Privateers with 18 kills, while Maria Szivos finished with 12. Splitting the setter duties, Cassidy Asebroek tallied 35 assists, while Hajnalka Molnar added 17.

Denver remains at home for the rest of the weekend, hosting Louisiana-Lafayette on Saturday at 7 p.m. and Louisiana-Monroe on Sunday at 1 p.m. in Hamilton Gymnasium.

Prior to the start of their match against the Ragin Cajuns on Saturday, the Pioneers will honor its three seniors, Davidsmeyer, Clare Maxwell (Western Springs, Ill.) and Ninos with a pre-match ceremony. Denver will then hold its final Kuwata's Krew Clinic on Sunday, immediately following its match against the Warhawks.

For more information or to register, please contact Brook Coulter by phone at (303)-871-2326, by email at brook.coulter@du.edu or by fax at (303)-871-2800.

- PIONEERS -