Oct. 14, 2015
Game 23
About Denver:The Pioneers are 18-4 on the season and 6-1 in the Summit League. Five of Denver's six Summit League wins have come in straight sets. In the October 12 statistical rankings from the NCAA, DU once again led DI programs in total blocks. The Pioneers currently have 225 blocks, and Denver is undefeated when it wins the first set.
Oral Roberts: Oral Roberts is fourth in the Summit League at 4-2 and the team sits at 10-9 on the season. In the Golden Eagles' first season in the Summit League last year, the Pioneers were 2-0 against them.
Notes
TICKETS
Tickets for the 2015 season are on sale. The Pioneers' remaining home schedule features Summit League opponents. DU, the reigning Summit League Champion, will also host the Summit League Championships Fri., Nov. 20 through Sun., Nov. 22.
TOP BLOCKERS
Denver remained the top team in total blocks in the NCAA statistical rankings updated October 12. The Pioneers led all DI teams with 225.0 total blocks. Indiana State is in second place 11 blocks behind Denver. Middle blocker Sarah Schmid leads DU with 100 total blocks and ranks seventh individually. Schmid was recently ranked first with 88 blocks through September 28. Ruth Okoye and Kayla Principato were also in the top 78 with 81 and 76 total blocks, respectively.
AT THE SUMMIT
The Pioneers lead the Summit League at 6-1. They also have the best overall record among the Summit League teams at 18-4 on the season.
SUMMIT STAR
Schmid was named the Summit League Female Athlete of the Month for August/September 2015. She earned her first Athlete of the Month award after leading the NCAA with 90 blocks through September 29 and has recorded a 2015 League-high 10 blocks twice this season. In addition, Schmid hit at least .400 in 10 of the Pioneers' 18 matches in August and September. Schmid earned her second Summit League Defensive Player of the Week award for her play vs. Northern Colorado, IPFW and IUPUI. Schmid tallied a career high 10 block assists at IUPUI for the Summit League season high for total blocks in a match. Schmid was also named the Summit League Defensive Player of the Week for her week 2 performance during the Pioneer Classic and vs. Western Michigan. Schmid recorded 26 total blocks in four matches. Schmid leads the Summit League in blocks per set.
BAIRD BREAKS RECORDS
Cassie Baird was named the MVP of the Pioneer Classic. Baird tallied 16 kills, three aces and 12 digs vs. UT Arlington, at the time all career highs. In the final match of the Pioneer Classic, Baird recorded four aces, a new career high.
PRINCIPATO AND DOMME SET CAREER BESTS
Principato earned a career-high 14 kills in the season opener vs. Bakersfield. Principato closed out the second week of play with back-to-back 15-kill matches, setting a new career high. Setter Monique Domme also set a career best in the first game of the season with 24 assists in the match, a record she beat the next match with 27 assists vs. San Diego State. Domme broke her personal record for the third time this season with 29 assists vs. UT Arlington. Principato and Domme earned career highs at UTEP. Principato had 18 kills, and Domme had 34 assists. Setter Piyusha Boteju also had a career-high 29 assists in the match.
NCAA RANKINGS
In the second statistical rankings of 2015, DU ranked third among DI teams in team total blocks (116.0), tied for fourth in team kills (590) and fourth in team assists (550). In the October 12 release of the rankings, Denver led NCAA DI teams with 225.0 total blocks. Many Pioneers remain ranked individually. In addition to the three players ranked for their blocking performances, Schmid ranks 14th for her .426 hitting percentage, Cassidy Rooke is 31st with 353 digs and Baird is 34th with 29 service aces. Other top-150 rankings include Baird (aces per set), Rooke (digs per set) and Schmid (blocks per set).
BEING THE BEST
DU finished in the top 30 in the nation in many categories as well, including kills, kills per set, hitting percentage, assists and assists per set.
