DU Volleyball Drops 3-1 Decision to CSU Northridge

Box Score

DENVER – Freshmen Moni Corrujedo (El Paso, Texas) and Nola Basey (Lyons, Colo.) each finished with double-figure kills and digs but it wasn’t enough as the University of Denver volleyball came up on the short end of a 3-1 (25-18, 21-25, 28-26, 25-23) decision against Cal State Northridge on Saturday afternoon at Hamilton Gymnasium.

The teams battled back and forth for the majority of the match as they each traded off victories in the opening three games – with CSU Northridge claiming the first and third sets while Denver triumphed in the second. The fourth set saw the Pioneers lead by as many as three points at 10-7 and as late as 21-20 before the Matadors ripped off five of the final eight points to close out the match.

The loss evened Denver’s overall season record at 5-5, while CSU Northridge improves to 7-2 with the victory.  Each of the Pioneers last four opponents were either ranked or receiving votes in the AVCA Top 25.

"The match today against Cal State Northridge was another tough match in the last couple sets coming right down to the wire,” DU head coach Jesse Mahoney said.  “We didn't quite do enough to get it done. We had our opportunities. I felt again we left it all out on the floor, and I was really proud of my team."

Senior Brea Muhle (Columbus, Neb.) enjoyed a tremendous afternoon against CSU Northridge as she finished with 11 kills on 15 errorless attacks for a match-best hitting percentage of .733.  Colleen King (Highlands Ranch, Colo.) added 11 kills to round out the Pioneers offensive leaders along with the freshmen tandem of Corrujedo (11 kills, 11 digs) and Basey (15 kills, 11 digs).

Junior Kate Acker (Waukesha, Wis.) came up with a match-best 18 digs in the loss.

Cal State Northridge was paced in the victory by Natalie Allen, who totaled 13 kills and 12 digs.

Saturday’s match marked the final of this weekend’s Denver Invitational, which saw UCLA claim the tournament title by virtue of its 3-0 mark on the weekend.  The Bruins’ Karsta Lowe was honored as the most valuable player and was joined on the all-tournament team by Kelly Reeves (UCLA), Leah McNeary (Creighton), Michelle Sicner (Creighton), King (Denver) and Allen (CSU Northridge).

The Pioneers return to action next weekend when they travel to Boone, N.C., to take part in the Appalachian State Tournament.  Denver will open the event on Friday, Sept. 20 against UT-Arlington in a match slated for a 2 p.m. (MT) start.

 

- EXPERIENCE DENVER ATHLETICS –

 

Visit DenverPioneers.com for complete coverage of all 17 of Denver’s NCAA Division I sports.