After overcoming a 2-0 deficit, the Big Red dropped a 15-12 decision in the fifth-and-final set at Marietta on Wednesday night in Marietta, Ohio.

Denison found themselves in a big hole after dropping the first two sets of their match with Marietta (25-18 and 27-25). Despite being on life support, the Big Red responded by pulling off a come-from-behind win in the third set (25-19) and edging the Pioneers 27-25 in the fourth to push the match to a fifth-and-decisive set.

Marietta opened the fifth-set scoring with a kill before four-straight DU points put the visitors in the lead. Denison's lead stayed right around three points until back-to-back kills by Mallory Vodopich and a Big Red attacking error squared the match at 9-9. The Pioneers continued the run with another Vodopich kill and a double block by Vodopich and Amanda Arrowood which put Marietta ahead 12-10.

Leah Reinfranck ended the run with a kill off an assist from Kaileigh Poe, but three-consecutive points set the Pioneers up with three match points. A ball handling error and attacking error by Marietta shrunk the margin to 14-12, but an Erica Denallo kill ended DU's comeback bid.

Reinfranck finished with a match-high 16 kills to go along with three block assists, while Rachele Lock recorded nine finishers. Poe dished out 28 assists, served up two aces and logged 11 digs, while Kristen Brennan led DU with three aces. Kristin Thewes paced the defense with 27 digs, while freshman Alex Tubbs and four total blocks and senior Sarah Bradley added three rejections. Freshman Katie Aucamp also logged four block assists.

Denison falls to 2-2 on the season, while the Pioneers improve to 6-1. The Big Red returns to action this weekend at Case Western Reserve University in Cleveland, Ohio. DU will open the tournament on Friday (Sept. 9) against Berry (5:30 p.m.) and Rochester Institute of Technology (7:30 p.m.).