University of Delaware Athletics
Win Streak Stretches to Six as University of Delaware Volleyball Dominates UNCW, 3-0, in CAA Play
10/22/2011 5:18:00 PM | Volleyball
NEWARK, Del. - - A dominating performance at the net leads the University of Delaware volleyball team to a straight set Colonial Athletic Association victory over UNCW, 3-0, for their sixth straight win on Saturday night at the Carpenter Sports Building.
Set scores for the match were 25-17, 25-9, and 25-11. The Blue Hens (14-11, 7-2 CAA) used a .403 attack percentage to storm through UNCW (9-16, 2-6 CAA) to remain in a virtual tie with James Madison in first place of the CAA standings. Delaware holds the head-to-head tiebreaker over the Dukes.
The standing room only crowd (the crowd of 566 was the highest in head coach Bonnie Kenny's tenure) witnessed the home team keep the Seahawks on their heels the entire match. UNCW left the three set match with a -.055 hitting percentage. They collected 18 kills, but committed 22 errors on 73 attempts.
The Delaware block brigade had a lot to do with the Seahawk issues, as the Blue hens totaled 11 blocks and kept numerous rallies alive by getting a hand on an attack. Chelsea Lawrence (above left) led the Blue Hens with a solo block and seven block assists, while Alissa Alker contributed four block assists. Renee Tomko, Kim Stewart and Karina Evans each added three block assists as well.
Lawrence was an all-around performer for the Hens, as she was the lone student-athlete, on either side of the ball, to finish with double-digit kills. She tallied 10 kills without making a mistake on 14 swings for a .714 attack percentage.
Alker hit .400 on the night, adding nine kills on 15 attempts. Stewart, Evans and Katie Hank (above right) each put down five kills to round out the offense. For the match, Delaware collected 35 kills to UNCW's 18.
The first set ended up being the closest set of the night, but it was the Blue and Gold who got off to a fast start. They scored the first four points and held a five-point lead at 15-10. Kills by Evans and Stewart bookended a five-point run for the Hens, 20-10, before Hank finished off the Seahawks with a kill, 25-17.
Delaware owned the second frame, making two runs of six consecutive points throughout the set. Leading 5-4, kills from Stewart and Lawrence, and an ace from Alker pushed the lead to 11-4. Now leading 11-6, Delaware scored nine of the next 10 points to make it a comfortable 20-7 lead. Alker made it a two sets to none lead with a kill, 25-9.
The final game was more of the same for the Blue Hens as they started the set with another 4-0 run. Leading 6-5, the home team blew it wide open with a 12-1 spurt. The teams traded points from that moment on, as Alker put the Seahawks away for good with her ninth kill, and Tomko's 31st assist of the night, 25-11.
Christi Laite led UNCW with seven kills while Jennifer Mallard collected six. Natalie LaHaie dished out 16 assists while Haley Collins led the back row with six digs. Laite also added four block assists. As a team the Seahawks blocked five UD attacks.
Delaware will put its six-match win streak on the line next Saturday, October 29, when the Blue Hens welcome CAA rival Towson to Viera Court. Towson defeated Delaware, 3-0, in the teams first meeting this season. The match is slated to start at 7 p.m.
AGATE:
Delaware def. UNCW, 3-0 (25-17, 25-9, 25-11)
Delaware (kills-assists-digs): Hank (5-0-0-); Tomko (1-31-5); Stewart (5-0-6); Alker (9-0-7); Lawrence (10-0-0); Evans (5-0-2); Rosehill (0-0-6); Reigel (0-0-0); Walton (0-2-5); Oemcke (0-0-0).
UNCW: LaHaie (1-16-2); Keightley (0-0-1); Kline (2-0-1); Porter (0-10); Laite (7-0-4); Mallard (6-0-2); Mohrman (0-0-0); Gagliardi (2-0-0); Young (0-0-0); Fitzgerald (0-0-0); Mounts (0-0-3); Collins (0-1-6). Total Team Blocks: Delaware 11; UNCW 5
