University of Delaware Athletics
Towson Volleyball Tops Delaware, 3-0, To Snap Blue Hens' Six-Game Winning Streak
10/29/2011 5:24:00 PM | Volleyball
NEWARK, Del. -- The University of Delaware volleyball team battled Towson University through three hard-fought sets, but the Tigers prevailed each time to post a 3-0 victory over the Blue Hens and snap Delaware's six-game winning streak Saturday night at Barbara Viera Court.
The Tigers, who won their fourth consecutive game, prevailed by scores of 25-19, 29-27, and 27-25. Towson improved to 20-7 overall and 7-3 in the Colonial Athletic Association, while the Blue Hens dropped to 14-12 overall and 7-3 in conference play. Both Towson, Delaware and James Madison are tied for second place in the league standings with identical 7-3 records, one game behind league-leading Northeastern which sits at 8-2 in the conference.
Following its next game, a home contest against Hofstra on Friday, the Blue Hens welcome Northeastern to Viera Court next Saturday night.
I'ishah Keliikoa and Dayane Van Ass each recorded 13 kills while Katy Buck added 11 for Towson, which swept the season series from Delaware. Paige Sekerak posted a game-high 18 digs for the Tigers, while Buck added 15 and Aubrey Kirven contributed 43 assists.
Delaware was led by junior middle hitter Chelsea Lawrence (at right), who posted a team-leading nine kills while making just four attack errors to post a .179 hitting percentage for the night. Lawrence also tied for the team lead with five blocks, while junior Alissa Alker also had five blocks to go with eight kills and a team-high 12 digs.
Kim Stewart notched eight kills to go with only two errors to hit a team-high .240 for the match, while Katie Hank added seven kills during the contest. Setter Renee Tomko recorded 33 assists, eight digs and four blocks for the Blue Hens, who also had a six-game home winning streak snapped. Delaware had not dropped a game at Viera Court since a loss to then 14th-ranked Northern Iowa on September 3, losing only three sets in that stretch.
Towson took control of the match early, jumping out to a quick 10-2 advantage in the opening set on a pair of kills by Keliikoa and Van Ass. Delaware would answer back to pull within 14-11, and the Blue Hens still trailed by only three at 18-15 following a Lawrence kill. However Towson countered with a pair of points and led by at least four the rest of the set, eventually putting it away when Van Ass and Susan Gansor combined on a block.
The second set was extremely tight, as neither team led by more than two points the entire way. Stewart gave the Blue Hens a game point at 26-25 following a kill, but Van Ass and Gansor answered to put Towson up a point. Tomko and Lawrence teamed up for a block on Van Ass to knot the set at 27-27, but kills from Van Ass and Alysha McCreary gave the Tigers a two-set lead.
The third set would prove to be equally even, as again neither team pulled in front by more than two points until a kill from Stewart and a block by Hank put Delaware ahead, 21-18. However Towson would immediately respond, reeling off five consecutive points to take a 23-21 advantage. However Delaware would not go away as the Blue Hens scored two straight points, and following a Towson point, UD staved off a match point when Hank posted a kill. The game was still even at 25-25, but Buck and Van Ass each posted kills to give Towson the hard-earned victory.
The Blue Hens remain home on Friday when they host Hofstra at 7 p.m. at Viera Court, before Saturday's 7 p.m. match against Northeastern on Senior Night.
