DENVER – The Denver Pioneers volleyball team swept Western Illinois to mark its fourth straight win and sweep on Monday in Hamilton Gymnasium.
 
Turning Point
Denver went on a dominating 12-0 run midway through the first set to build a commanding lead in the match.
 
1st Set
The Pioneers started slowly before their scoring run took them from a 7-6 deficit to an 18-7 lead. Western Illinois managed to score only twice more after that stretch. The Crimson & Gold scored the last five points of the set to win 25-9.
 
2nd Set
Western Illinois held a 12-9 lead in the second set before Denver called a timeout to settle its game. Prior to that point, the Pioneers surrendered points with two service errors, two attack errors and a bad set. The Leathernecks extended their lead to five points at 16-11 before the Pioneers rallied to score the next five points and tie the set. Denver put Western Illinois on the ropes with a 24-20 lead, but the Leathernecks saved set point multiple times and took a 27-26 lead before the Pioneers ultimately won 29-27.
 
3rd Set
Denver had a five-point advantage at 12-7 before Western Illinois scored five of the next six points. With their lead cut to one after a contested point to make it 13-12, the Pioneers scored six of the next seven points to take a 19-13 advantage. Denver rolled to a 25-19 win.
 
Inside the Box Score
-Denver improved to 16-0 all-time against Western Illinois, having dropped only two total sets to the Leathernecks. The Pioneers are 9-0 on their home court vs. Western Illinois and have never dropped a set in the Mile High City
 
Significant Stats
-Lydia Bartalo recorded a season-high 16 kills
-Tom Hogan won his 101^st game as head coach of the Pioneers
 
Up Next
Denver travels to Oral Roberts for a two-game set on Feb. 28 and March 1 in Tulsa, Oklahoma.
 
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