The Denison volleyball team suffered a pair of setbacks on the opening day of the River City Tournament hosted by Marietta College.  The Big Red dropped a 3-1 (25-14, 25-20, 20-25, 25-21) decision to the host Pioneers in the first match, and fell to Penn State-Behrend in the nightcap, 3-1 (25-14, 25-21, 23-25, 25-23).

Against Marietta, junior Lauren Strowder (Cleveland Heights, Ohio/Cleveland Heights) paced the Denison attack with 15 kills, while classmate Claire Koneval (Solon, Ohio/Solon) dished out 34 assists.  The DU defense was led by Brooke Beavers' (Sylvania, Ohio/St. Ursula Academy) 17 digs, and first-year Madison Owen's (Novi, Mich./Northville) three blocks.

Against the Lions, Strowder notched 11 kills, and Koneval recorded 38 assists.  Defensively, senior Lauren Weidner (Barrington, Ill./Barrington) registered 20 digs, while rookie Lauren Gustafson (Los Angeles, Calif./Palisades Charter) blocked four shots.

Denison (0-3) closes out play at the River City Tournament on Saturday (Sept. 4) when they take on Bethany at 10:30 a.m. and LaGrange at noon.