Make it five straight NCAA appearances for the Denver Pioneers (27-3) without winning a set. However, by almost any measure, this year’s team was the best in Denver volleyball history. Denver fell 3-0 to Utah in the first round of the NCAA’s in Provo, Utah. While Denver did not win a game, they are clearly on the right track and battled a solid Utah side.
Freshman outside hitter Graceyn Tippens filled in for the injured Katarina Marinkovic so DU was missing a vital cog in their front line heading into the match. Still, all credit goes to Utah for grinding down the Pioneers in a tight match. Continue reading Denver Volleyball Swept out of NCAA’s 3-0→
Denver volleyball (27-2) was on the bubble. After dropping the Summit League conference tournament final to the University of South Dakota, the Pioneers had to anxiously wait at head coach Tom Hogan’s house Sunday evening. The Pioneers were rewarded for their outstanding season, undefeated in conference play, and will have an opportunity in the first round to avenge their regular season loss against the University of Utah.
It may sound like a broken record, but this years DU women’s volleyball (27-2, 15-1) displays their mental toughness every time they step on the court and rebound from seemingly insurmountable deficits and, even, injuries. But Denver could only claw their way back so many times before their luck finally ran out today at Hamilton Gym. The scores were 25-27, 26-24, 25-19, 21-25, and 6-15 as the Pioneers fell in five games to South Dakota in the Summit League Championship game.
In a marathon match at Hamilton gym, DU volleyball (23-1, 12-0 Summit) defeated the University of South Dakota (16-9, 12-3 Summit) 25-15, 25-27, 27-25. 24-26 & 15-12. DU moved to a ‘best ever’ record of 23 wins for the season – while extending their winning streak to 21 matches. This week, DU also received 5 votes by the American Volleyball Coaches Association and fell just outside the top 25 programs. With 330 D1 volleyball teams, head coach Tom hogan’s squad is making national noise.
The match looked to be easy early against the second place Coyotes. Denver took the first game 25-15 with relative ease. However, 16 service errors for the night kept South Dakota in the match. And, it was not just service errors – the match featured long rallies by both squads and some incredible saves and kills. The next three games required extra points to determine the winner with USD taking the second and fourth sets to stretch the match into a final deciding fifth game.
Again, DU fell in a hole 10-6 in the final game and were on the brink of defeat. But a furious rally by Denver pulled the game even at 12-12. Then, Denver’s best server, Tina Boe, led Denver for their last three points for the Pioneer win. Tonight was the first time this season that a DU opponent had won a set on the Pioneers floor and South Dakota gave Denver all they could handle. But, ultimately, it was the Pioneers refusal to buckle under pressure that gave them the win.
Becca Latham and Katarina Marinkovic led the Pioneers with 16 and 14 kills respectively. Ellie Anderson and Lauren McManus had 33 and 24 assists. Macy Carrabine had 31 digs. Haley Dotseth and Elizabeth Loschen had 13 and 10 kills respectively and Madison Jurgens had 36 assists and 12 digs to lead the Coyotes.
And, without a doubt, LetsGoDU’s Tim Healy (playing the bongos with the DU Pep Band) inspired DU volleyball’s late match rally.
DU’s final home match is this Friday against Oral Roberts at 7:00. If you have not seen DU volleyball play this season, this will be your last chance before Denver hosts the Summit League Tournament November 16th-18th.
This upcoming weekend, October 12th – 14th, marks another DU Homecoming and a great chance for students, families, DU faculty and staff along with alumni to cheer on the Pioneers. The weather forecast shows cold weather clearing out Saturday and sunny weather in the 50’s on Saturday for Hocktoberfest – with rapidly falling temperatures.
Hocktoberfest will again feature live music, food and, of course, beer before the game. And, like last year there will be a complimentary scarf and Denver cup.
Denver volleyball (16-1, 5-0 Summit) just keeps rolling. A weekend sweep of South Dakota (3-0) and North Dakota (3-1) has the Pioneers sitting in a first place tie (Omaha is also 5-0) heading toward another 20-win season. And, with 4-consecutive Summit League titles, the Pioneers traveled this weekend to the Dakotas with a target on their backs and returned unscathed.
The sweep of South Dakota (11-7, 5-1 Summit) Friday night was memorable because it was only the 4th match the Yotes have lost at Sanford Coyote Sports Center since it opened in 2016. Twelve aces each by Becca Latham and Lydia Bartolo along with Ellie Anderson’s 22 assists keyed the Pioneer sweep – 25-23, 25-19 and 25-23.
The good news: ✔️ We’re 15-1 for the season ✔️ We’re still undefeated in @thesummitleague play (4-0) ✔️ Entering the weekend we ranked No. 1 in the NCAA in aces/set (and we had five more tonight)
Photo:DenverPioneers.com. Becca Latham leads a balanced Pioneer attack
It is finally happening. DU (14-1, 3-0 Summit) and North Dakota (12-8, 4-1 Summit) are headed for a ‘first time’ collision course in Summit League play – and this one should be interesting. Denver women’s volleyball plays new Summit League member North Dakota this weekend on the road Sunday, following a Friday road match against South Dakota 10-6, 4-0 Summit). Continue reading DU Volleyball gets first crack at North Dakota as Summit League foe→
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.
Photo: Compliments Summit League
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.
DU volleyball (23-5) got the word slightly after 7:00 pm MT Sunday night that they will be facing Cal Poly (26-2) in NCAA first round women’s volleyball. Should they win that contest, they are likely to play #15 UCLA. The winner is likely to face #2 Florida in the third round of this bracket and #7 Minnesota in the Regional Finals with the winner advancing to the Final Four. No easy path for sure. The good news is that the Pioneer’s seeding allows them to play another squad that is not seeded in the Top 16. That makes this a realistic opportunity to win a game or two – or even the match before facing a top seeded side.
The #1 seed University of Denver (22-5 overall), faced a pesky Oral Roberts Golden Eagles (15-13 overall, 11-3 Summit League) squad but used their power game to push past the #2 seed visitors, 3 – 1 (25-14, 23-25, 25-19, 25-16). Emma Willis had 15 kills, Ellie Anderson 25 assists, Tina Boe had 6 blocks, and Piyushu Boteju had 11 digs. To top off the team effort, Kayla Principato was named the MVP of the Summit League Tournament. Principato had 12 kills and 27 total attempts/attacks. ORU was paced by senior Laura Milos with 25 kills and a whopping 51 total attempts/attacks. Continue reading DU Volleyball Powers Past ORU for Title→
