University of Delaware Athletics
Four Players with Double Digit Kills Lead University of Delaware Volleyball Past George Mason, 3-1
10/9/2011 3:22:00 PM | Volleyball
NEWARK, Del. - - Four players collected double-digit kills as the University of Delaware volleyball team used a balanced attack to take both ends of a weekend set, defeating George Mason, 3-1, in Colonial Athletic Association action on Sunday afternoon on Viera Court.
Set scores for the match were 25-21, 17-25, 25-17 and 25-18.
Delaware (10-11, 3-2 CAA) moved a game above .500 in conference play for the first time this season and gave George Mason (7-10, 2-3 CAA) is third straight loss.
“We were pretty balanced today,” head coach Bonnie Kenny said. “I thought our middles did a good job going right at their middles. We had four kids in double-digit kills, which is a credit to Renee (Tomko). I thought Renee set a really good set today. For both the middles to be in double digit kills, that really opens up the offense.”
Senior Kim Stewart led the Blue Hens with 15 kills while Katie Hank added 13 from the outside. Middle hitters Chelsea Lawrence and Karina Evans (above right) each added 10 kills. Evans hit .421 for the match, leading the home.
Tomko (below right) collected 46 assists on the afternoon, setting the offense that saw all its regulars with more than 10 kills, except Alissa Alker. However, Alker led the back row with 16 digs, had two aces and added two block assists. Stewart (14), Tomko (12) and Cara Rosehill (12) also added double figures in digs.
“The game plan was to mix up the offense today and Renee did an awesome job making the middles work and telling us when we need to get up,” the Santa Barbara, Calif. native Evans said. “By the middles getting up, the outsides had the pin shot. The mix up on the offense really helped us today.”
Evans added two solo blocks and two block assists for a defense that out blocked the Patriots 8-6. Lawrence and Stewart also contributed a solo block each, while Lawrence also had two block assists.
After the hiccup in the second set, the Blue Hens came out of the break and took control of the match. Leading 20-17 in the third game, a block by Hank and Evans followed by back-to-back kills by Hank gave the home team set point. Tomko finished off the Patriots with an ace, 25-17.
The fourth set was decided in the early going, as Delaware raced out to a 7-4 lead. The Blue Hens went on a 10-3 run, capped off by kills from Hank and Stewart to make it 17-7. The Patriots cut it to as close as five points at 23-18, but a Hank termination and a Hank service ace ended the set and the match, 25-18.
“It was a good weekend,” Kenny said of defeating James Madison on Friday and George Mason today, both 3-1 victories. “You have to win at home. We are really trying to get this team to understand the importance of winning back-to-back matches. We had a stumbling block and we lost a game because of it, and they need to understand that game is important because in the CAA, it could come down to that.”
Lana Zonjic had 15 kills to lead the Patriots as Noelle Fanelle added 10 as the only Mason players in double figures. Lauren Goodell dished out 40 assists and Fanella led the back row with 22 digs.
Delaware returns to the road next weekend, starting on Friday, October 14 at William & Mary. They will continue to Richmond to take on Virginia Commonwealth on Saturday, for two more CAA battles. Both matches are slated for a 7 p.m. start.
AGATE:
Delaware def. George Mason, 3-1 (25-21, 25-17, 17-25, 25-18)
Delaware (kills-assists-digs): Hank (13-1-3); Tomko (1-46-12); Stewart (15-3-14); Alker (7-1-16); Lawrence (10-0-1); Evans (10-0-4); Rosehill (0-1-12); Reigel (0-0-0); Walton (0-0-7)
George Mason: Goodell (4-40-7); Zonjic (15-1-6); Fanella (10-1-22); Bohman (6-0-0); Farm (6-1-14); Spencer (5-0-0); McCarter (0-1-21); Matsushima (0-0-0); Spear (0-0-1).
Total Team Blocks: Delaware 8, George Mason 6
