DENVER – Riding on its momentum from a record-breaking 2018 season, the 2019 University of Denver volleyball team finished the season 23-9 overall, the programs seventh-straight winning season and fourth under head coach
Tom Hogan.
2019 was another season of success for the Pioneers, as they notched their fifth Summit League Tournament Championship, sixth-straight NCAA tournament appearance and landed the programs first Summit League Most Valuable Player and third All-American in junior,
Lydia Bartalo.
"The 2019 season was one of the most challenging yet rewarding seasons we have had in my eight years of being a coach here at Denver," Hogan said. "We faced a lot of adversity in many ways and because of this, we grew by leaps and bounds each day. I am extremely proud of each player, coach and staff member, and I know that this past season will have a tremendous positive impact on our future."
HOW IT HAPPENED
The Pios began their 2019 campaign going undefeated through five matches. Denver dropped its first two matches of the season to ranked opponents, falling to then No. 20 Hawaii 3-1 and then No. 2 Nebraska 3-0. The Pios regained their footing to conclude their non-conference run, snagging two matches from Santa Clara and Montana in Hamilton Gymnasium to improve their record to 8-4 heading into Summit League action.
Denver began Summit League play 2-2 but was able to bounce back with seven straight wins before falling to South Dakota in their second meeting, 3-1. The Crimson and Gold rallied once again, heading into the Summit League tournament on a four-game winning streak after securing 12 straight sets.
Finishing Summit League play with a 13-3 record and locking in a first round bye, No. 2 seed Denver played host to the six-team field. The Pioneers faced No. 3 seed Purdue Fort Wayne in the semifinals, taking the match 3-1 (20-25, 25-15, 25-19, 25-22) to advance to the championship. DU secured its fifth Summit League Tournament Championship the following day, fending off No. 4 seed Omaha in four sets (25-21, 25-13, 22-25, 25-18).
Following the victory,
Amanda Green,
Tina Boe and Bartalo were named to the All-Tournament team while Bartalo was tabbed Most Valuable Player.
Earning an automatic bid into the NCAA tournament, the Pioneers were selected to face Stanford in Palo Alto in the first round of the NCAA tournament.
Denver closed its 2019 campaign with a 3-0 loss to the eventual National Champion, Stanford Cardinal. The Pioneers finished the season with a 23-9 overall record holding an impressive 14-2 mark in front of their home crowd.
SENIORS
Competing in their final season as Pioneers were seniors
Taylor Joachim,
Andrea Eddy,
Katie Mahoney and Green. Green, a transfer from Louisville made her presence known, ranking second on the team in kills with 269 and third in blocks with 152.
MILESTONES
Three Pioneers reached career milestones during the 32-game season. Bartalo recorded her 500
th kill against Omaha on Oct. 15 while Boe tallied her 500
th kill against South Dakota State on Nov. 1.
Ellie Anderson reached her 1,500
th career assist against South Dakota on Nov. 3.
POSTSEASON ACCOLADES
Freshmen
Brianna Green and
Kalea Fobert made a huge impact in their first season as Pioneers both being named to the Summit League All-Freshmen team. Green tallied a team-high 131 blocks, ranking third in the Summit League in blocks per set (1.22). Fobert appeared in 96 sets for the Pios, recording 204 kills and 57 blocks.
Anderson earned her second consecutive honorable mention. She finished league play ranked seventh in assists per set (5.21) and led the Pioneer offense with 610 assists.
Boe picked up her first all-league honor after she was an Honorable Mention selection in 2019. The middle blocker finished league play ranked second in the Summit League in attack percentage (.362) and tallied 208 kills and 104 blocks.
Bartalo became the first Summit League Most Valuable Player in program history. The outside hitter recorded a team-best 374 kills and 48 service aces as she led the Summit League in aces per set averaging 0.41. The Colorado Springs native was also named to the AVCA Midwest All-Region team and locked in the program's third AVCA All-American nod.
OTHER KEY CONTRIBUTORS
Junior libero,
Macy Carrabine led the Pioneers defense for the second straight season, recording 422 digs through 32 matches. Also hitting their strides were freshmen
Ari Winters and
Lorrin Poulter. Winters appeared in 97 sets ranking fifth on the team in kills (181) while Poulter ranked second on the team in assists (330).
SHOP PIONEERS:
Get dressed for Game Day! Get your Pioneers gear at
ShopPioneers.com, the official online store of University of Denver Athletics.
DONATE:
Fans interested in making a donation to the volleyball program can do so by clicking here. Your contribution will make a direct impact on the success of YOUR Pioneers. Thank you in advance for your unwavering support of our student-athletes and their quest for excellence.
SHOP PIONEERS:
Get dressed for Game Day! Get your Pioneers gear at
ShopPioneers.com, the official online store of University of Denver Athletics.
DONATE:
Fans interested in making a donation to the volleyball program can do so by clicking here. Your contribution will make a direct impact on the success of YOUR Pioneers. Thank you in advance for your unwavering support of our student-athletes and their quest for excellence.
2020 DENVER ATHLETIC HALL OF FAME RECEPTION:
Denver announced its
2020 Athletic Hall of Fame class in January. The inductees will be honored on the DU campus May 16. For more information, registration for the reception and donation information,
click here.
- Our Journey, Our Time –
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