University of Delaware Athletics
Outside Hitters Lead University of Delaware Volleyball Past James Madison, 3-1, for CAA Victory
10/7/2011 3:20:00 PM | Volleyball
NEWARK, Del. - - Strong performances from the outside hitters led the University of Delaware volleyball team over James Madison, 3-1, in the Blue Hens' first Colonial Athletic Association home match of the season on Friday night at the Carpenter Sports Building.
Set scores for the match were 25-20, 25-17, 23-15 and 25-14.
In front of over 500 fans, Delaware (9-11, 2-2 CAA) hit .302 as a team, including a .405 hitting percentage by Kim Stewart (above right) and a .364 attack average for Katie Hank, ending James Madison's (12-4, 3-1 CAA) four-matching win streak.
Stewart picked up her fourth double-double of the year with 16 kills and 11 digs. She took 37 swings, committing only one error to lead the Blue Hen offense. Hank finished with 15 kills on 33 swings, making three errors on the night. Middle hitter Chelsea Lawrence (below right) was the final Hen in double-digit kills with 11.
Renee Tomko upped her season's assist average to 10.44 per game by dishing out 46 assists. She also added 11 digs for her team leading 10th double-double.
Cara Rosehill led a back row that finished with four different players with more than 10 digs, finishing with 21. Alker also contributed double-digit digs with 19. The Blue Hens held a 71-56 advantage in team digs.
The first set was decided by a five-point swing for Delaware. Tied at 19-19, three straight kills by Stewart for the Dukes to call both of its timeouts. A kill by Chelsea Lawrence, a service ace by Alker and a service error by the Dukes finished off the set 25-20.
Another large run decided the second set for the Hens, but this time it came earlier in the game. Trailing 8-4, Delaware scored the next three points to inch within one. After James Madison notched a kill, the Blue Hens scores the next seven points to take a 14-9 lead. Now leading 20-15, UD scored five of the next seven points to take the set.
After dropping the third set, the Blue Hens Took control of the final set from start to finish. Five consecutive points gave the Hens an 8-3 advantage while another four point swing made it 12-5. James Madison had to use both its timeouts to try and seize the momentum. But the Hens didn't let up, keeping the Dukes at a distance. After a kill by Stewart, a JMU attack error gave Delaware its biggest lead at 21-11. Hank ended the set, and the match, with an emphatic termination, 25-14.
Holly Wall led the Dukes with 12 kills and 16 digs. She was the lone JMU player in double figure kills. Megan Wiechmann tallied 22 assists while Kristi Richardson added 19. Libero Katie Daorai tied Wall for a team high 16 digs, while Natalie Abel finished with 14.
The Blue Hens remain at home this Sunday as they welcome George Mason for another CAA showdown.The match is slated for a 1 p.m. start.
AGATE:
Delaware def. James Madison, 3-1 (25-20, 25-17, 23-25 and 25-14)
Delaware (kills-assists-digs): Hank (15-0-2); Tomko (1-46-11); Stewart (16-46-11); Alker (6-2-19); Lawrence (11-0-0); Evans (7-1-1); Rosehill (7-1-1); Reigel (0-0-0); Walton (0-0-6).
James Madison: Erb (8-0-7); Briones (7-0-0); Wiechmann (0-22-1); Maguire (7-0-0); Abel (9-0-14); Wall (12-2-16); Daorai (0-1-16); Stewart (0-0-1); Turner (2-0-1); Maddox (0-0-0); Richardson (2-19-1).
Total Team Blocks: Delaware 4, James Madison 2
