DENVER, COLO- Coming off a five-set loss to South Dakota on Sunday, the Pioneers look to bounce back with two road matchups this weekend against North Dakota and North Dakota State.

The Pioneers enter the weekend sitting at 10-6 overall and 2-2 in Summit League action, those two wins coming against Oral Roberts and South Dakota State.

Junior outside hitter, Lydia Bartalo is coming off a career weekend after slamming a career high and team high of 18 kills against the Coyotes on Sunday. Bartalo was one of two Pioneers who recorded a double-double in the five-set showdown, the other coming from junior middle blocker, Tina Boe. After reaching a career milestone of 1,500 assists over the weekned, junior setter Ellie Anderson continues to lead the Crimson and Gold in assists, averaging 4.72 per set. Junior libero, Macy Carrabine climbed her way into the Summit League top five this past weekend, ranking fifth in the conference and first on the team in digs per set with 3.98.

As a team, the DU offense is averaging 12.1 kills per set, led by Bartalo who has a total of 171 kills on the year with an attack percentage of .170. Defensively the Pios remain solid, averaging 2.2 blocks per set led by freshman Brianna Green, who leads the Summit League in blocks per set with an average of 1.44 per frame.

DENVER vs. NORTH DAKOTA
  Fri., Oct.11, 2019 • 2 PM MT
    Location: Grand Forks, N.D.
    Overall: 1-0| Last Meeting: Oct 7., 2018

Scouting the Hawks: North Dakota enters the weekend with a .500 record at 9-9 overall and 1-3 in Summit League play, their one win coming against Western Illinois on October 4^th. As a team, the Hawks average 11.1 kills per set and 2.1 blocks per set. Freshman setter, Peyton Sewell leads the offense with an average of 5.66 assists per set, ranking fifth in the Summit League. Putting those sets to good use is senior outside hitter, Ashley Brueggeman who has a team high 203 kills through 18 matches. Defensively, North Dakota is led by 6'2 junior, Lydia Rutten who has totaled 65 blocks this season.  

Last Meeting: This will be just the second matchup between the two squads in program history. The one meeting coming last season on October 7^th, 2018. DU saw a .225-.114 attack percentage advantage in through the four-set match. The Pios took the match three sets to one before the second meeting between the two teams was cancelled due to weather.
 
DENVER vs. NORTH DAKOTA STATE
  Sun., Oct.12, 2019 • 12 PM MT
    Location: Fargo, N.D.
    Overall: 10-4| Last Meeting: Oct 19., 2018

Scouting the Bison: The Bison will enter the weekend holding a 7-9 overall record, sitting at 2-2 in Summit League action. NDSU will look to grab their third-straight conference victory, following a perfect weekend with victories over Purdue Fort Wayne and Western Illinois. The Bison will begin their weekend homestead with a Friday night matchup against South Dakota. As a team, North Dakota State ranks at the top of the Summit League with a team hitting percentage of .317, totaling 759 kills through sixteen matches. Emily Halverson leads the offense averaging 1.69 kills per set while libero Kaylee Hanger leads the team defensively, averaging 3.35 digs per set.

Last Meeting: Sunday will mark the fifteenth showdown between the two teams. The last meeting came in 2018 on October, 19^th when the Pios swept NDSU in Denver. DU out-hit the Bison -.052-.93 in the three-set match. The Pios are 3-3 when playing the Bison in Fargo.
 
DENVER TICKET OFFICE:
Tickets for volleyball games during the 2019 season are on sale now and can be purchased here.

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