by El Paso, Texas- The UTEP volleyball team suffered a 3-2 loss to Denver (20-25, 25-22, 18-25, 27-25, 9-15) Thursday evening at the Don Haskins Center.
Junior Lindsey Larson posted a match-high 45 assists to go along with 11 digs for her sixth double-double this season. Sophomore outside hitter Dalainee Perry recorded a team-best 14 kills while senior Ashley Peak notched 26 digs for a team-high. Naomi Whitehair (Navajo) played in 4 sets and finished the match with 7 digs.
The Miners opened the first set with a 9-6 lead but the Pioneers pieced together a 7-0 run to pull ahead 13-9. Denver never looked back as they stretched the lead 22-14, and eventually claimed the set 25-20.
A 9-1 run by Denver started the second frame before the Miners responded with a kill by Dalainee Perry. The Pioneers had a second long run of 7-0 to extend their lead to 18-9. Perry hammered another kill to stop Denver’s momentum and allow UTEP to go on 8-0 run of its own. The Miners were able to snatch the lead from the Pioneers and took the set 25-22.
With the match tied 1-1, the third stanza was a point for point battle with eight tied scores and four lead changes. Denver sealed the set (25-18) with four consecutive kills and a service ace by Cassidy Rooke.
UTEP took a 20-13 lead in the fourth set before Denver began to gain momentum. The Pioneers tied the frame at 24-24 with a kill by Ruth Okoye. But the Miners were able to capture the frame 27-25.
The Pioneers took an early 5-2 advantage in the fifth set before UTEP tied the score at 6-6 following a strong kill by Coline Coessens. The score tied once again at 7s before Denver went on a 8-2 run to claim the final stanza, 15-9, and the match.
