University of Denver
2-0,0-0WCC
Cal State Northridge
0-2,0-0Big West
| Team | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | Final F |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Denver | 25 | 22 | 26 | 22 | 15 | 3 |
| CSUN | 20 | 25 | 24 | 25 | 11 | 2 |
Players Mentioned
Team Stats
Game Leaders
Pioneers Rally to Five-Set Victory Over CSUN
8/29/2026 6:28:00 PM | Volleyball
BOULDER, Colo. – The University of Denver volleyball program defeated the CSUN Matadors, 3-2 (25-20, 22-25, 26-24, 22-25, 15-11), on Saturday afternoon inside the CU Events Center. The Pioneers improved to 2-0 on the season with the five-set victory.
LEADERS
Alicia Thibodeau paced the Pioneers with 23 kills, while Kayla Patel added 17 kills. Jamia Johnson and Hailey Goebel each contributed nine kills. Ilayda Eren led Denver with 25 assists, while Madison Winkler anchored the defense with 32 digs.
HOW IT HAPPENED
SET ONE
The first point of the match came on a kill from Patel, tying the score at 1-1. The Pioneers then erupted for a 5-0 run, highlighted by three consecutive kills from Patel, Johnson and Katelyn Landis, to take a 5-1 lead. CSUN responded with a run of its own, cutting the deficit to one at 5-4. The teams traded points before Denver began to pull away, building a 20-12 advantage behind multiple kills from Thibodeau and Goebel. The Matadors fought back with a 3-0 run to cut Denver's lead to three at 22-19, but the Pioneers remained composed. Patel recorded another kill to put Denver at set point, 24-20, before the Pioneers closed out the set, 25-20, on a service ace.
SET TWO
After a strong opening set, CSUN came out firing in the second, taking an early 4-1 lead. The Pioneers' first point came on a kill from Lily Van Hal, and Denver quickly fought back, reclaiming the lead at 6-5 behind several kills, including one from Goebel. The teams continued to trade points, battling through ties at 11-11, 12-12, 13-13 and 14-14 before the Matadors used a 3-0 run to take a 17-14 advantage. An attack error and a kill from Elise Hart brought Denver within one at 17-16. The teams continued to exchange points before CSUN used another 5-0 run to extend its lead to 23-17. The Pioneers responded with multiple kills from Quinlan Jones and Patel to cut into the deficit, but the Matadors held on to take the set, 25-22.
SET THREE
The teams traded points early, with Landis recording Denver's first kill of the set before Patel added another to give the Pioneers a 2-1 lead. A Denver service error and a CSUN kill evened the score at 3-3 before the Matadors used a 6-2 run to build a 14-8 advantage. Denver responded with a 3-0 run, highlighted by a kill from Thibodeau, to cut the deficit to 14-11. The Pioneers continued to battle, using a 5-2 run featuring kills from Thibodeau, Hart, Johnson and Eren to pull within one at 17-16. CSUN maintained its lead until Denver turned the momentum, using a 5-0 run with four kills and a service ace, including three kills from Thibodeau, to take a 23-22 lead. The Matadors answered with two points off Denver attack errors, but the Pioneers responded when it mattered most, closing out the set, 26-24.
SET FOUR
The Pioneers opened the fourth set with back-to-back kills from Goebel and Thibodeau to take an early 2-0 lead. CSUN responded with a 3-0 run, highlighted by two kills and a Denver attack error, to take a 3-2 advantage. The teams continued to trade points and the lead before the Matadors used a 3-0 run to move ahead 10-7. Denver answered with a 4-0 run, including kills from Patel and Johnson, to regain the lead at 11-10. CSUN responded with a 5-2 run to take a 17-14 advantage, but the Pioneers fought back with a 5-2 run of their own to even the set at 19-19. The Matadors regained control and extended their lead to 22-20 before Patel delivered a strong kill to cut the deficit to one. CSUN reached set point at 24-22 and ultimately closed out the set, 25-22.
SET FIVE
Both teams battled through the early points of the deciding set before Denver used a 4-1 run to take an 8-5 lead, highlighted by two kills from Thibodeau and another from Johnson. The Pioneers maintained their advantage with additional kills from Patel, Johnson and Thibodeau to extend the lead to 13-9. CSUN answered with a kill, but Denver held its ground and closed out the deciding set, 15-11, to secure the five-set victory.
NOTES
- Denver's five-set victory over CSUN
- 23 kills from Thibodeau
- 17 kills from Patel
- 32 digs from Winkler
- Denver's 68 kills and 93 digs as a team
UP NEXT
Denver will take on Boulder on Sunday at 2 p.m. MT inside the CU Events Center in the third match of a three-match weekend in Boulder. The Pioneers will open their home slate on September 3 against SIUE at 6 p.m. MT.
Ticket Information:
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