Box Score LINCOLN- Following their Friday night loss to second ranked Nebraska, the University of Denver volleyball team dropped their third and final match of the Ameritas Players Challenge 3-0 to High Point University.

The loss drops the Pioneers to 6-3 while the Panthers jump to 3-7 overall.

Coming back from an early deficit, a string of kills by the Pio offense tied the opening set at 6. The Panthers answered, stringing together a 4-0 run followed by a three-point burst to take a 15-10 lead. A pair of kills from Lydia Bartalo down the stretch were not enough to complete a set one comeback as the Pios dropped the set 25-17. Bartalo led the Pios in kills in the set, recording four while Brianna Green and Ari Winters added two each.

Carrying their momentum into set two, the High Point offense shined in the opening points of the set jumping out to another early lead at 7-4. Kills by Winters and Bartalo served up by freshman Lorrin Poulter were enough to cut into the Panther lead and pull Denver within five. Another run provided from the Pios came late in the set to pull themselves within four at 24-20 but it was HPU who grabbed the final point to take the set 25-20.

Looking to keep themselves alive, the Crimson and Gold opened the third set jumping out to a 5-2 advantage with the help of a 3-0 run. Continuing her nights' success into the final set, Winters recorded a pair of kills to begin the set, leading her to a team-high ten kills on the night.

High Point saw their first lead of the third set come at 9-8 when they went on a five-point tear followed by a second 5-0 run in order to take a commanding lead. A 3-0 Pio run down the stretch wasn't enough to stunt the High Point offense as they sealed the third set 25-21 and match 3-0.

Other leaders for Denver were Poulter who recorded 14 assists and Macy Carrabine who added 14 digs through three sets.

The Crimson and Gold return to action next Thursday as they take on Air Force (6 p.m. MT) in Colorado Springs, Colo. to open the Thin Air Challenge.

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