Pioneers Top Leathernecks 3-0 on the Road

Box Score

MACOMB, Ill. – Led by a 12-kill performance by freshman Nola Basey (Lyons, Colo.) and a 10-kill showing from senior Brea Muhle (Columbus, Neb.), the University of Denver volleyball team swept (25-14, 25-21, 25-23) Summit League foe Western Illinois on Friday night at Western Hall in Macomb, Ill.

“We are happy for any win, especially a sweep on the road,” said head coach Jesse Mahoney. “WIU is a tough environment to play in and we got sloppy at times. But in each set we were able to put together great point runs from the service line to break them open and Brea was once again a rock for us offensively.”

Along with her 12 kills, Basey finished with six digs and one block, while Muhle posted a game-high 55.6 hitting percentage to go along with two digs and three blocks.

Also chipping in for the Pioneers was freshman Moni Corrujedo (El Paso, Texas) with eight kills to go along with nine digs and four blocks. Sophomore setter Tori Moons (Visalia, Calif.) finished with 31 assists and 13 digs, while junior libero Kate Acker (Waukesha, Wis.) tallied 18 digs.

Mallory Gibson led the Leathernecks with 11 kills, while Ann Miller chipped in with 10.

Up next, the Pioneers remain on the road, traveling to Omaha, Neb., to take on the Mavericks on Sunday at 1 p.m. MT.

MEDIA

On Sunday, live stats and live video will also be available at OMavs.com.

SUMMIT LEAGUE UPDATE

Denver sits in a tie for second place at 15-11 on the season, 9-4 in league play. IUPUI leads the league with a 10-3 conference mark, while South Dakota is tied with the Pioneers with a 9-4 record. Fort Wayne and North Dakota State round out the top-five with 8-5 and 6-7 league records, respectively.

THE SERIES WITH THE MAVERICKS

Denver leads the all-time series against Omaha, 2-0. The Pioneers took a 3-0 win in Denver earlier this season on Oct. 18.

SCOUTING THE MAVERICKS

Sophomore Bailey Baxter ranks 51st nationally with 0.38 service aces per set, and sophomore Megan Schmale is 97th in the country with 1.15 blocks per set. Sophomore Michaela Schimmer’s nine double-doubles and one triple-double lead the Mavericks this season. In matches that Omaha has secured a sweep this season -- against Stetson, Southern, Drake and North Dakota State -- the Mavericks have outhit the opposition .219 to .095. They have also totaled 166 kills to their opponents’ 124, as well as posted 2.2 blocks to the other teams’ 1.7 and 15.6 digs to 14.0. Omaha is 4-2 this year when it wins the first set of a match. The Mavericks are 6-1 this season when leading in hitting percentage, and UNO is 4-0 when its opponents hit .100 or lower.

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