Denver Earns the Five-Set Victory over Memphis

Thursday, September 4

Denver, Colo.

6 p.m. MT

University of Denver

2-1,0-0Summit League

Memphis

3-1,0-0American

Team	1	2	3	4	5	Final F
Memphis	13	17	25	25	7	2
Denver	25	25	22	18	15	3

28 AUG 2025: The University of Denver takes on the University of Memphis at Hamilton Gymnasium in Denver, CO. Justin Tafoya/Clarkson Creative Photography

Photo by: Justin Tafoya/Clarkson Creative Photography

9/4/2025 8:58:00 PM | Women's Volleyball

Box Score Highlights Photo Gallery

By: Sarah Wettemann

DENVER – The University of Denver women's volleyball team defeated the Memphis Tigers (25-13, 25-17, 22-25, 18-25, 15-7) to open the Denver Invitational on Thursday night in Hamilton Gymnasium.
The Pioneers were led by Ava Reynolds who recorded 16 kills and a .333 hitting percentage, alongside Genevieve Lewis who added 12 kills and Alicia Thibodeau who added 10 of her own. Defensively, Alayna Finucan added 12 digs and Elise Hart added 6 blocks.

GAME NOTES

Ilayda Eren had a team-best 20 assists while Izzy Rawlings added 19.
DU had three players with double-digit kills: Ava Reynolds, Genevieve Lewis and Alicia Thibodeau.

HOW IT HAPPENED
SET 1
Denver got off to a quick 8-2 lead and didn't look back en route to winning set 1, 25-13. The Pioneers' balanced attack was the key to success in the first stanza with a trio of kills by Lewis, Jamia Johnson and Thibodeau
SET 2
The Pioneers and the Tigers battled back and forth to start set two before DU took the lead at 8-7. Denver recorded a massive .520 hitting percentage on 15 kills to win the second set, 25-17.
SET 3
Memphis took an early, 11-7 lead to start the third set. The Pioneers were able to battle back to tie the match at 15 and traded blows back and forth with the Tigers, but dropped the third set, 25-22.
SET 4
Denver and Memphis traded points early before the Tigers rattled off five straight points to take a 7-2 lead. The Pioneers cut the deficit to 16-18 but dropped the set, 25-18.
SET 5
The Pioneers took an early 5-2 lead in the final stanza off of back-to-back-to-back blocks by Lewis, Elise Hart and Thibodeau. Denver kept its offensive momentum rolling and earned at 15-7 final-set victory.

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