DENVER -Led by an 11-kill and eight-block effort from junior Alyssa Bonelli (Superior, Colo.), the University of Denver volleyball team (13-14, 7-5 SBC) swept the Troy University Trojans (10-16, 2-7 SBC) on Sunday afternoon in Hamilton Gymnasium. The Pioneers turned in scores of 25-12, 25-21 and 25-21 to improve to 7-5 in conference play and win their fourth straight SBC match. Denver currently sits in third place in the SBC West Division.

"We did a very good job in the first set of coming out focused and ready to play right away, which is something that we've struggled with a bit this season," said head coach Beth Kuwata. "I'm very happy with our blocking performance today and even though we had some mental lapses in the second and third set to allow Troy back in, I'm happy with the way we were able to close out each set and get our fourth straight SBC win."

Along with Bonelli's efforts, the Pioneers got strong  performances on offense from senior Kresson Vreeman (Raymond, Minn.) and freshmen Brea Muhle (Columbus, Neb.) and Colleen King (Steamboat Springs, Colo.) as all three finished with six kills apiece. Along with her six kills, Vreeman finished with 34 assists and four blocks, while King finished with 11 digs and four blocks.

Senior Kacie Wikierak (Crystal Lake, Ill.) led the Pioneers with 12 digs, bringing her career total to 1,934 digs, 192 shy of the top spot in the DU Record Books. As a team, the Pioneers finished with 13.5 total blocks, their third-best blocking performance of the season.

Devin Von Pingel, Brittany McClelland and Kayla Giles led the Trojans with seven kills each.

Next up, the Pioneers remain at home to play their final match in Hamilton Gymnasium of the regular season on Friday, Oct. 29 at 7 p.m. as Western Kentucky makes the trip to the Mile-High City. The Pioneers will celebrate senior day, honoring Vreeman, Wikierak and Brittany Adams (Lakewood, Colo.) in a pre-match ceremony.

- PIONEERS -