Box Score| Season Stats

VERMILLION, S.D. - The Denver Pioneers earned their second sweep in a row at South Dakota (25-17, 25-21, 25-17) Tuesday. Denver has a 10-3 record in The Summit League and 22-6 record on the season.

"It was a complete win for our team," head coach Jesse Mahoney said. "We played steadily throughout and didn't allow any runs from USD. It's a big boost for our confidence heading into a big showdown match Friday."

Sarah Schmid (Highlands Ranch, Colo.) led Denver with 13 kills on 17 attempts, whileRuth Okoye (Aurora, Colo.) also hit better than .700 with seven kills on nine attempts and recorded a solo block and four block assists in the match. Three Pioneers aided the offense with assists. Monique Domme (Colorado Springs, Colo.) led the team with 22 assists,Piyusha Boteju (Euless, Texas) added in 15 assists and reigning Summit League Defensive Player of the WeekCassidy Rooke (Rancho Santa Fe, Calif.) contributed a single-match career-high eight assists.

The Pioneers' offense excelled from the start of the match, hitting .519 in the first set, making this the second straight match in which Denver hit better than .500 in a set. Four Pioneers had a perfect hitting percentage in the set: Schmid, Okoye, Domme and Nola Basey (Lyons, Colo.). Basey also had a service ace in the first set, helping the Pioneers claim the set 25-17.

Denver and South Dakota battled in the second set. After ties through the first 10 combined points, the Coyotes gained a 13-9 lead before DU tied the set up at 13.Cassie Baird (Indianapolis, Ind.) led the Pioneers with six kills in the second set. Denver ultimately completed its comeback, regaining the lead at 20-19 before winning 25-21.

In the final set, DU came out to its best start in a set this season. Denver earned nine consecutive points before giving up a point to the Coyotes. South Dakota powered back with two three-point runs, but the Pioneers held onto the lead, winning the set 25-17 to defeat South Dakota 3-0. Schmid led the Pioneers with five kills, and Baird and Rooke each tallied aces in the set.

The Pioneers will host IUPUI Friday, Nov. 6 at 7 p.m. MT and IPFW Sunday, Nov. 8 at 12 p.m. MT as the final regular season games in Hamilton Gymnasium.

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