The University of Denver (23-6) played Cal Poly (27-2) at legendary Pauley Pavillion on the UCLA campus Friday night in round 1 NCAA play.
Denver fell to the Mustangs 3-0 (25-20, 25-18, 25-18).
Going into the match, Cal Poly had won 21 of 26 matches 3-0 so the Pioneers were facing a red hot Mustangs squad. Outside hitter star Torry Van Winden was the player of the match with 21 kills. Taylor Nelson had a whopping 41 assists.
Cassie Baird led DU with 11 kills. Piyusha Boteju had 17 assists and libero Cassidy Rooke had 8 digs to pace the Pioneers.
After four consecutive trips to the NCAA”s, Denver has yet to capture a game in the first round. Coach Tom Hogan and his staff’s goal must make some changes to make a deeper run in the NCAA’s. Continuing to improve their non-conference schedule would seem to better prepare them for this higher level of competition. Nonetheless, another fine season with a regular season championship and conference tournament championship- their fourth in four years.
This DU senior class will go down in history as the program that elevated DU into an NCAA tourney program – Four Summit titles and Four NCAA tourney appearances and 31-0 at home. Fantastic performance for a sport that has 350+ programs playing to get to this level, but I’m sure the NCAA script of three-and-outs in NCAA play is starting to get old for the Pios, who have yet to win a game in tourney play, let alone a match for the last four seasons.
The challenge now is how can the Pios break through and win games and matches at the NCAA tourney level?
While scheduling is certainly important, I think what is missing are top-class recruits. DU gets solid college players who are well developed, but as a former US National Junior Coach, I would like to see Coach Hogan bring in a an higher level of recruit with national level potential. The only one to date at that level is Principato, who is graduating. We need more players of her caliber.
This DU senior class will go down in history as the program that elevated DU into an NCAA tourney program – Four Summit titles and Four NCAA tourney appearances and 31-0 at home. Fantastic performance for a sport that has 350+ programs playing to get to this level, but I’m sure the NCAA script of three-and-outs in NCAA play is starting to get old for the Pios, who have yet to win a game in tourney play, let alone a match for the last four seasons.
The challenge now is how can the Pios break through and win games and matches at the NCAA tourney level?
While scheduling is certainly important, I think what is missing are top-class recruits. DU gets solid college players who are well developed, but as a former US National Junior Coach, I would like to see Coach Hogan bring in a an higher level of recruit with national level potential. The only one to date at that level is Principato, who is graduating. We need more players of her caliber.