DENVER -- The University of Denver volleyball team fell to South Dakota State, three sets to one (20-25, 25-21, 25-27, 19-25) on Thursday night in Hamilton Gymnasium.
Ava Reynolds earned a double-double with a career-high 20 kills and 14 digs.
Alicia Thibodeau chipped in 10 kills and
Kate Perryman added nine. Defensively, Maddie Winkler made 18 digs, Perryman added five blocks and
Elise Hart and Thibodeau each added four.
NOTABLES
HOW IT HAPPENED
SET 1
Denver started the match with a 6-0 run to build a 7-2 lead. SDSU was able to take back the momentum, to tie the match at 10 before taking a 13-11 lead. The Jacks extended the lead to 18-13. The Pioneers cut the deficit to two but ultimately dropped the set, 25-20.
SET 2
SDSU took an early 5-2 lead to start the second set. Reynolds led the offense with 6 kills on 9 attempts for the Pioneers. Her efforts from the service line led a 4-0 for Denver to take a 10-8 lead which they never relinquished en route to a 25-21 set two win.
SET 3
The Pioneers took a 5-2 lead to start the set, but could not hold the momentum and the Jacks tied it up at 6-6. Denver was able to fight back for a 9-7 lead off the third successful challenge of the night by Coach Pendergast. DU and SDSU battled back and forth throughout the third set, highlighted by back to back to back Kills by Reynolds to tie the match at 22. Despite the battle, the Pioneers dropped the third set 27-25.
SET 4
The Pioneers and the Jackrabbits once again battled in a back and forth set, but SDSU built a 14-11 lead that they never relinquished. Despite several big rallies late in the set, Denver fell to SDSU in the fourth set, 25-19.
The Pioneers return to Hamilton Gymnasium on Saturday at 1p.m. MT to take on the South Dakota Coyotes.
Tickets:
Tickets are on sale now for the 2025 Denver volleyball season. Purchase tickets for the rest of the 2025 campaign
here.
Summit League Network:
Catch the remainder of Denver's 2025 season on the Summit League Network.
Subscribe to the league streaming service today.
DENVER'S HOME FOR COLLEGE SPORTS
Visit DenverPioneers.com for complete coverage of all 18 of Denver's NCAA Division I sports.
Like Denver Pioneers and Denver Volleyball on Facebook
Follow @DU_Pioneers and @DU_Volleyball on Twitter
Follow @denverpioneers and @duvolleyball on Instagram
