Box Score| Season Stats

OMAHA, Neb. - The University of Denver volleyball team lost 3-0 at Omaha (21-25, 19-25, 21-25), the first three-set loss for the Pioneers. DU sits at 8-3 in the Summit League and 20-6 on the season.

For the second straight match,Cassie Baird (Indianapolis, Ind.) led Denver's offense. Baird recorded nine kills, and Ruth Okoye (Aurora, Colo.) had eight kills in the match. Monique Domme (Colorado Springs, Colo.) led the Pioneers with 21 assists, and liberoCassidy Rooke (Rancho Santa Fe, Calif.) tallied 18 digs and a service ace.

Denver performed worse than Omaha in several categories, recording fewer kills, attempts, service aces, digs and blocks. Each set went through at least four lead changes, including the first set which underwent nine lead changes. The Mavericks victory moves them just behind the Pioneers at 7-3 in the Summit League.

Three Pioneers had three kills in the first set: Baird, Sarah Schmid (Highlands Ranch, Colo.) and Okoye. Denver posted its best hitting percentage of the match at .234, but the Mavericks outhit the Pioneers with a .340 hitting percentage in the first set. Denver matched Omaha throughout the set, even tying the match 21-21 before a four-point run won the first set for the Mavericks.

Denver could not find its offensive rhythm in the second set, with attack attempts from 10 players and kills from only six players. Similarly, Omaha attacked DU's defense, with eight Pioneers notching digs in the set. The Pioneers and Mavericks traded points to begin the set, but Omaha pulled away again. After Denver took a 10-9 lead, the Mavericks went on a 5-0 run to gain a 14-10 lead, a lead they would hold through the final score of 25-19.

In the final set, Baird amassed three kills for the third straight set. Becca Latham (Austin, Texas) also tallied three kills in the set. Much like the second set, the teams traded points at the start of the set. The Mavericks worked up a 14-11 lead before the Pioneers tied the score at 14-14. Omaha regained the lead 15-14 and closed out the set with a 25-21 win.

Denver returns home Friday, October 30 at 7 p.m. MT against Western Illinois. The Pioneers defeated the Fighting Leathernecks 3-0 in the teams' first meeting this season.

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