Who: Denver (3-1) vs. Western Illinois (0-7)
What: Games 5 & 6
Where: Hamilton Gymnasium | Denver, Colo.
When: Feb. 21 (5 p.m. MT) | Feb. 22 (4 p.m. MT)
How to Watch: Stream
Last Time Out
Denver swept South Dakota State on Feb. 14-15 in Brookings, South Dakota. The Pioneers improved to 16-0 all-time against the Jackrabbits.

Series History
Denver is 14-0 all-time against Western Illinois, having lost only two total sets to the Leathernecks.  The Pioneers are 7-0 on their home court vs. Western Illinois and have never dropped a set in the Mile High City.
 
Last Meeting
Denver went 2-0 against Western Illinois last season with a home sweep in October 2019 and a road sweep in Macomb, Illinois 28 days later.

What's Next
Denver looks ahead to back-to-back road trips at Oral Roberts (Feb. 28 – March 1) and North Dakota (March 5-6).

Quick Points

• This weekend marks the only time the Pioneers are scheduled to play matches in Hamilton Gymnasium between Feb. 2 and March 11. Denver is set to host South Dakota in its next home series on March 12-13
• The Pioneers are the only team in the Summit League that have not played a non-conference match and have the fewest number of matches played (4)
  • Denver, South Dakota and North Dakota are the only three teams in the Summit League with only four conference matches played, while the other six teams have played six conference matches each
  • The Pioneers have played the fewest sets in the conference (13). The Summit League average for sets played this season is 28.5 overall and 12.9 in conference play
• Denver has won the second set of a match in eight straight Summit League matches and eight of the last nine matches overall
• The Pioneers rank 16^th in the country in blocks per set (2.85)
• Denver leads the Summit League in eight of 12 major statistical categories for overall season stats: hitting percentage (.248), opponent hitting percentage (.154), assists/set (12.69), kills/set (12.62), blocks/set (2.85), service aces/set (2.15), opponent service aces/set (0.77) and opponent digs/set (14.08)
  • In conference play, the Pioneers lead the conference in six of 12 major statistical categories, more than any other Summit League team: assists/set (12.69), kills/set (12.62), blocks/set (2.85), service aces/set (2.15), opponent service aces (0.77) and opponent digs/set (14.08)
• The Pioneers have three of the top four spots in the conference for service aces/set: Macy Carrabine (.062 – 2^nd), Ellie Anderson (0.56 – 3^rd) and Lydia Bartalo (0.54 – 4^th)
• Denver's Tina Boe and Brianna Green are T-3^rd in the Summit League for blocks/set (1.15)
• Brianna Green ranks 3^rd in the conference for hitting percentage (.347)
• Entering the 2020 season, the Pioneers had the 18^th-highest winning percentage among all Division I programs in the last five seasons (.778) and the 20^th-most wins (123)
• The Crimson & Gold went 23-9 last year to mark the program's seventh straight winning season
• Denver ranked 2nd in the Summit League Preseason Coaches' Poll behind South Dakota. The Pioneers received two first-place votes. Lydia Bartalo & Tina Boe were named Players to Watch 
• Tom Hogan enters his fifth season at the helm with a 96-27 overall record (53-8 Summit League). He was hired as an assistant coach in 2012, promoted to associate head coach in 2014 and named head coach in December 2015. Denver is 89-12 in Hamilton Gymnasium since 2012
• Three Pioneers reached career milestones last year. Lydia Bartalo recorded her 500^th kill against Omaha on Oct. 15. Tina Boe posted her 500^th kill against South Dakota State on Nov. 1. Ellie Anderson tallied her 1,500^th career assist against South Dakota on Nov. 3
• Denver returns 12 players from last season and welcomes four newcomers including freshmen Ryen Wilkins, Gemma Tipping, Gianna Bartalo and grad transfer Erica Andrich
  • '20-21 Returners/Newcomers: Overall: 12/4, Setters: 3/0, Outside Hitters: 5/1, Middle Blockers: 2/1

CORONAVIRUS UPDATES: For the latest University of Denver updates on the coronavirus, click here.

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