SIOUX FALLS, S.D. – The Denver Pioneers volleyball team gave all it had before falling in a five-set classic on Saturday to South Dakota, 3-2 at the Sanford Pentagon. The Pioneers saw their five-match winning streak come to a close in the loss.
Turning Point
The Coyotes holding off DU at championship point in the third at 25-24, to run off three straight points to take the set, 27-25.
1st Set
The Crimson and Gold opened strong, taking the first set 25-19. Denver got its efficient play going, finishing with a .256 hitting percentage in the set, resulting in 17 kills.
2nd Set
Denver came up huge in one of the best sets of the season, taking it 28-26. Pioneers started up 14-11 before South Dakota used an 11-8 run to tie things up at 22-22 after a kill from Madison Jurgens. Trailing 24-23, DU kept itself alive on a kill from
Lorrin Poulter. Denver separated for the big set win after back-to-back kills from
Brianna Green and
Ari Winters made it 28-26
.
3rd Set
Another classic set in the third, with the Coyotes leading midway through 14-11. The Crimson and Gold, however, showed its resolve, going on a 7-4 run to tie it up at 18-18. Things got intense late again, with Denver taking a 25-24 lead on a kill from
Tina Boe, but USD answered with by scoring three out of the next four points to take the set, 27-25, snapping the Pioneers' 17-set winning streak.
4th Set
Both teams traded points, keeping things close at 8-8. Neither team was able to build more than a two-point lead until a late 3-0 run from the Pioneers made it 21-17 after a
Katarina Marinkovic kill. But South Dakota responded with a back-breaking 9-3 run to close the set 26-24, and tie up the match at 2-2.
5th Set
In one of the wildest sets in tournament history, Pioneers opened with a 4-0 run to start, forcing the Coyotes to take a timeout. USD came out swinging out of the timeout, going on a 6-3 run of its own to close to within one at 7-6 after a kill from Maddie Wiedenfeld. DU took its last lead of the day at 17-16 after an attack error from Sami Slaughter. South Dakota closed from there, getting the next two points to clinch the match.
Inside the Box Score
- Pioneers had six players finish in double figures in kills, most this year.
- Marinkovic had a season-best 17 kills, one off her career high.
-
Ellie Anderson and
Lydia Bartalo each recorded a double-double in the loss.
Significant Stats
- Denver saw its five-match winning streak come to a close.
- DU set new season highs in kills (82), assists (78) and digs (87).
- Denver has advanced to the Summit League Championship in every year since it joined the league back in 2013.
- Boe and Anderson named to the Summit League All-Tournament team.
Up Next
Denver waits to see if it can continue postseason play with an at-large bid in the NCAA Selection Show set for Sunday night.
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