DENVER- The University of Denver volleyball team fell to No. 11 Colorado State in its regular season finale 3-2 (25-19, 23-25, 25-11, 25-27, 15-11) in Magness Arena on Saturday.
Denver drops to 23-8 overall while the Rams extend their win streak to 28 in a row, improving to 29-1 overall. The Pioneers and Rams will learn their 2019 NCAA Tournament draws on Sunday night at 6:30 p.m. MT on ESPNU.
The Rams opened up the match with three-straight points to take an early lead on the Pioneers. Denver battled back to pull themselves within one at 8-7 but CSU used a 4-1 run to grab a 12-8 advantage. A pair of blocks from the Denver defense contributed to a 4-0 run to cut the Colorado State lead to one at 16-15 but the Rams held on, locking in five of the final six points to secure the set one victory at 25-19.
DU jumped out to a quick 4-1 lead in the second set. The Rams powered back, pulling themselves within one at 8-7 but a service ace from
Lydia Bartalo and a kill from
Amanda Green put the Pios on top 17-11 before a 4-0 run from the Rams cut the lead to 20-19. Denver was able to hold onto to their lead down the stretch to take the second set 25-23.
Colorado State was hot in the third frame, using four consecutive points to go up 8-3. CSU used a 7-1 tear to surge to a 20-7 lead and didn't let up as they sailed to a 25-11 set three victory.
The Pioneers found themselves in a 12-6 hole midway through the fourth frame but powered back with the help of a 5-0 run to take a 21-20 lead. The Rams battled to tie things at 24 and again at 25 but a kill from
Kalea Fobert and a ball handling error from CSU lifted Denver to a fourth set victory at 27-25.
Riding on their momentum, the Crimson and Gold took a 4-1 lead early in the fifth set but a 4-0 Colorado State run was the difference maker giving them a 10-6 advantage ultimately leading them to a 15-11 victory to clinch the match.
A. Green had a season-best 16 kills to lead the Pioneers offensively.
Ellie Anderson and Bartalo each added double-doubles for the Pioneers. Anderson dished out a team-high 25 assists to go along with 11 digs while Bartalo added 12 kills and a team-best 17 digs. Defensively,
Tina Boe led Denver with eight blocks.
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