DENVER - The University of Denver volleyball team held a Crimson and Gold intra-squad scrimmage Saturday afternoon in Gates Field House. The event was open to the public and featured five sets of volleyball with mixed teams made up of the 2015 Pioneers.
"It's early in the year, so we expected some sloppy moments," coach Jesse Mahoney said. "I thought if you look through that there were times when we were exceptional. All of our newcomers played very well, which was good to see. We mixed up the lineups each time, so that there was great competition in each set. And top to bottom, I thought it was a really good experience for us."
Senior Sarah Schmid (Highlands Ranch, Colo.) agreed.
"I thought the scrimmage went really well. It's good to practice like what our matches are going to be like, especially since the freshmen have never had a home game before, so it was good to go through that routine and get ready for our upcoming tournament next weekend."
The two-time All-Summit League Team member added that the freshmen are doing a great job of coming into the team and making a difference.
"You can't even really tell that they're freshmen," Schmid said. "They're doing a really good job, so they're integrating nicely."
Mahoney saw promising play all over the court, with both veterans and newcomers contributing throughout the scrimmage.
"I thought our setting was really good at times. Monique Domme was excellent. Ruth Okoye was probably our most dominant middle blocker. Becca [Latham], who's a freshman, I thought you saw some glimpses of what she's going to be in this program. It was a good experience."
With the lineups changing between each set, the players had the opportunity to play with all of their teammates. Schmid appreciated switching up the lineups because the team has yet to decide the starters.
"We're so deep in each position, so I thought it went really well working with each player."
As the team attempts to repeat as Summit League Champions and return to the NCAA Tournament, the depth is something that will benefit the Pioneers.
Denver opens the season on Friday, Aug. 28 against Bakersfield in San Francisco, Calif., before coming home for the Pioneer Classic on Friday, Sept. 4 as they welcome Air Force, UT Arlington and Villanova.
- JOIN THE DENVER PIONEER NATION -
Visit DenverPioneers.comfor complete coverage of all 17 of Denver's NCAA Division I sports.
Like Denver Pioneersand DU Volleyballon Facebook
Follow @DU_Pioneersand @DU_Volleyballon Twitter
Pioneer Women's Volleyball Home
