NORTHERN COLORADO
• Denver lost to Northern Colorado in four sets in a non-conference match
• Kayla Principato led the Pioneers with 13 kills and a .303 hitting mark, coupled with three block assists
• Piyusha Boteju and Monique Domme each recorded 25 assists in the match, while Boteju tallied her second double-double of the year with 16 digs
• Nola Basey also recorded a double-double, her first of the season, with 10 kills and 10 digs in the loss
• Cassidy Rooke anchored the back line with a season-high 19 digs

PIONEER CLASSIC
• The Pioneers hosted the 2016 Pioneer Classic this past weekend at Hamilton Gymnasium
• DU defeated [20] Loyola Marymount in four sets and swept Montana State, but fell to Utah State to go 2-1 in the tournament
• Denver's win over [20] LMU was the first against a ranked opponent since Sept. 6, 2011 (vs [19] Colorado State, 3-1)

A CAREER FIRST
• Ruth Okoye garnered the first Summit League Defensive Player of the Week award of her career after pacing the Denver defense on the court at the Pioneer Classic
• The Aurora, Colo., native averaged 2.18 blocks per set at the Classic, totaling two solo blocks and 22 block assists in three matches at Hamilton Gym
• She recorded both solo blocks and nine block assists in DU's win over [20] LMU, recording a new career high with 11 total
• Okoye followed up with eight block assists in the win over Montana State and closed out the Classic with five block assists in the loss to Utah State

NOTHING BUT THE RUTH
• Okoye is currently leading the Summit League in blocks per set and total blocks at 1.58 and 41, respectively
• She also ranks sixth in the nation in total blocks and 14th in blocks per set
• At .336, Okoye is sixth in the Summit League in hitting percentage
• Okoye is currently one of four DU players with at least 50 kills, totaling 55, and one of three players with at least 30 blocks

NCAA RANKS
• As a team, Denver is ranked in the top 100 in seven categories, ranked 19th in blocks per set (2.90) and eight in total blocks (75.5)
• DU is ranked 73rd in service aces (38), 99th in opponent hitting percentage (.177), and 88th in hitting percentage (.240)
• Kayla Principato and Emma Willis join Okoye in the NCAA block rankings
• Principato is 49th in blocks (31) and 105th in blocks per set (1.19), while Willis is 57th in blocks (30) and 123rd in blocks per set (1.15)

ATOP THE SUMMIT
• Okoye, Principato, and Willis are ranked first, second and third, respectively, in the Summit League in total blocks and blocks per set
• Joining Okoye on the attack, Principato is 12th in the Summit League with a .264 mark
• Basey is currently tied for third in conference with eight service aces, while Olivia Novotny is tied for eighth with seven aces
• As a team, DU is third in hitting percentage (.240), but first in opponent hitting percentage (.177)
• Denver is also first in total blocks and blocks per set

US VS. THEM
• Aside from their defensive prowess, the Pioneers have doubled their opponents' total in service aces (38 to 19)
• DU is outpacing their opponents in blocks per set (2.90 to 2.00), kills per set (12.73 to 11.96) and assists per set (12.12 to 11.38)
• Opponents have recorded more digs (364 to 353) but have also committed more errors (155 to 124) and attacks (882 to 863)

VIP MEMBERS ONLY
• Moni Corrujedo became the 14th member of the 1,000 kill club after her first in the opening set against San Diego State
• Corrujedo currently owns 1015 kills in her career and is on pace to break the top 10 by season's end

KEEPING UP THE PACE
• Other DU members who are on pace to reach a major career milestone during this season:
• Basey can reach 1,000 kills by November at her current pace of 2.12 kills per set, she can also surpass 1,000 digs if DU reaches the NCAA tournament at her current pace of 2.19 per set
• Boteju can become a member of the 1,000 assist club by October at her current pace of 5.46 per set
• Domme can also reach the 1,000 assist plateau at the Denver Invitational at her current pace of 5.23 per set
• Okoye can break the 300 total blocks barrier by the end of September at her current pace of 1.58 per set
• Rooke can eclipse 1,000 digs by the end of September as well, at her current pace of 3.35 per set