After finishing their non-conference season 3-9, the Pioneer volleyball team is looking to improve during Sun Belt play, according to Head Coach Beth Kuwata.

Four games into the season, the team’s record stood at 2-2, including a win over in-state foe Air Force. At this point, the team seemed to be headed in the right direction. However, the ensuing seven-match losing streak had the Pioneers searching for answers while they return to their winning ways.

“We weren’t playing aggressively enough when it mattered most at the end of sets, and we were making too many errors,” said Assistant Coach Todd Nelson. “There were a couple of matches we simply didn’t play well.”    

Injuries have also played a role in the team’s early season struggle. In the match against Air Force, the Pioneers suffered a blow when right-side hitter Colleen King went down with an ankle injury.

During their losing streak, the Pioneers fell to volleyball powerhouses including Purdue, Missouri and UC-Davis, all of which are ranked in the AP Top 25 Poll.

While the non-conference portion of the Pioneers’ schedule did not go as planned, the team was able to rally for its final game before SBC play began, defeating No. 19 Colorado State in four sets on Sept. 16.

“We’re still working to decrease the number of errors we make and the team has done a better job of controlling less service errors, taking smart, aggressive swings when attacking and staying out of the net when blocking,” said Nelson.  “We need to play more consistently. There is a lot of talent on the team and we have seen them make some highlight-reel-type plays. But volleyball matches are won by playing at a high-level consistently, and we continue to work towards that each day.”

The Pioneers opened Sun Belt Conference play this past weekend as they defeated Florida Atlantic and lost to Florida International, bringing their Sun Belt Conference record to 1-1. DU volleyball will head to Louisiana this weekend for a pair of Sun Belt Conference matchups against Louisiana-Lafayette on Sept. 30 and Louisiana-Monroe on Oct. 1.