University of Delaware Athletics
Delaware Volleyball Returns Home to Take on James Madison and George Mason in Colonial Athletic Association Action
10/6/2011 3:08:00 PM | Volleyball
NEWARK, Del. -- The University of Delaware volleyball team looks to rebound in the Colonial Athletic Association as it welcomes James Madison and George Mason to the Carpenter Sports Building and Viera Court this weekend.
The Blue Hens will battle James Madison on Friday, October 7, at 7 p.m. before taking on George Mason on Sunday, October 9, at 1 p.m.
Friday night, Delaware will be hosting a special Alabama Tornado Relief fundraiser benefiting the Franklin County Alabama Tornado Disaster Relief Fund. Patrons are encouraged to pledge dollar amounts at the beginning of the match for each kill, block, assists, dig, or ace compiled by the Blue Hens during the contest.
Scouting the University of Delaware Blue Hens (8-11, 1-2 CAA):
The Blue Hens picked up their first CAA win of the season against Northeastern last weekend but couldn't complete the sweep as they dropped a straight set decision to Hofstra on Sunday.
The loss was the second of the season in the CAA for the Hens, matching last season's conference loss total for the four-time defending regular season champions.
The offense is run through Alissa Alker and Katie Hank, as they are sixth and seventh, respectively, in points in the conference. Alker averaged 3.88 points a game while Hank comes in at 3.81.
Hank sits fourth in the CAA in kills a game; averaging 3.50 each time she takes the floor. She has 238 kills on the season, hitting at a .226 clip. Alker also averages more then three kills a set, combining for 215 kills and a 3.16 average. She has made only 75 errors on the season for a .228 hitting percentage.
Renee Tomko is third in the CAA dishing out 10.38 helpers a game. She is second in the lead with 706 total assists.
The Hens have three players who collect more than three digs a set, led by libero Cara Rosehill's 4.65 average. Kim Stewart averages 3.28 digs a game while Alker is also up there with a 3.13 average.
Scouting the James Madison University Dukes (12-4, 3-0 CAA):
The league-leading Dukes take to the road after hosting the past seven matches at Sinclair Gymnasium/Godwin Hall. During that stretch, JMU went 5-2, including winning the past four matches, three in CAA play. The two losses were to Georgetown and Appalachian State during their own JMU Classic.
In the CAA, the Dukes have defeated William & Mary, VCU and George Mason, dropping only one set along the way. They most recently defeated the Patriots, 3-0, on September 30.
Natalie Abel leads the Dukes with 185 kills (3.14 per set). She is hitting at a .240 clip, taking 562 swings and only making 50 errors. Abel is also second on the team in digs, averaging 3.42 a game.
The Patriots use two setters to run the offense as Megan Wiechmann has tallied 306 assists on the year, narrowly edging out Kristi Richardson (303 assists). As a team the Dukes are fourth in the conference, averaging 11.69 assists per set. However, in their three CAA matches they have dished out 12.90 per game.
James Madison is tops in the conference in digs during their first three CAA matches, averaging 16.30 a set. The Dukes have five different players with 100 or more digs on the season led by Katie Daorai with 207.
This will be the 39th meeting between the two schools with the Blue Hens leading the all-time series, 21-17. Delaware is 6-1 over the last seven meetings, including a 3-0 win last year.
Scouting the George Mason University Patriots (7-8, 2-1 CAA):
The Patriots will head to Towson on Friday night before swinging through Newark to finish a three-match CAA road trip on Sunday. The trip started with a match against travel partner James Madison on September 30.
George Mason opened CAA play with a weekend sweep over VCU and William & Mary at home. Mason has won four of its last five contests overall.
Danielle Cook and Kelsey Bohman lead the Patriots, both contributing at the net. Cook leads the conference with a .356 hitting percentage from the middle hitter position. She has 84 kills on 177 swings, committing only 21 errors on the season. Bohman leads the CAA in blocks, averaging 1.56 blocks per set with 11 block solos and 70 block assists.
Lana Zonjic leads the Patriots with 164 kills (3.15 per game) while Noelle Fanella is the only other Mason player with over 100 kills at 138. Tori Price runs the offense, averaging 8.33 assists per game while starting in all 15 matches.
Defensively, Kelly McCarter averages 4.12 digs a set while totaling 206 digs on the season. Mason has three players averaging more than one block a set led by Bohman. Laura Spencer (1.08 per game) and Cook (1.02 a game) also play tough at the net.
This is the 38th meeting between the two programs as GMU leads the all-time series 19-18. Delaware has won 10 of the past 11 contests, including a 3-2 victory last season in the regular season.
