Box Score LOS ANGELES, Calif. – The Pioneers completed the reverse sweep (21-25, 13-25, 28-26, 25-23, 15-11) over the Loyola Marymount Lions on Saturday afternoon in Gersten Pavilion.
The win improved Denver's record to 1-1 to start the season.
The Pioneers were led by 15 kills by
Genevieve Lewis,
Ava Reynolds notched eight kills and
Alicia Thibodeau added seven of her own. On the defensive end,
Alayna Finucan made 12 digs and
Izabela Molina added eight blocks.
GAME NOTES
- Ilayda Eren recorded a team-high 23 assists.
- The Pioneers had five players earn a pair of service aces: Reynolds, Thibodeau, Finucan, Emma Mirabelli and Izzy Rawlings.
- Molina recorded a career-best eight blocks.
- Elise Hart and Madison Winkler made their collegiate debuts.
- The Pioneers own a perfect 2-0 record against the Lions.
HOW IT HAPPENED
SET 1
Denver and LMU went back and forth to start the match before the Pioneers took a 15-12 lead. DU held the lead until LMU made a late 3-0 run to tie the match at 19. Denver and Loyola traded the advantage back and forth until the Lions took the lead for good at 21-20 to earn the set one victory.
SET 2
The Pioneers found themselves in an early deficit in the set after LMU took a 6-0 scoring run. Denver could not build offensive momentum and dropped the second set, 13-25.
SET 3
Denver battled back to win their first set of the match in the third stanza. The Pioneers trailed 12-18 late in the set but were powered by a .290 hitting percentage and 14 kills to earn the 28-26 victory.
SET 4
DU built off the set-three momentum to win the fourth set, 25-23. The Pioneers took the advantage in a close set that was tied 13 times with 7 blocks and 11 kills in the stanza.
SET 5
The Pioneers completed the reverse sweep, winning the fifth set, 15-11. Denver and LMU battled back and forth before the Pioneers took the lead for good at 8-7. The Pioneers recorded an error-free final stanza with 7 kills and a .350 hitting percentage.
The Pioneers return home on Sept. 4 against Memphis for the Denver Invitational.
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