University of Delaware Athletics
Strong Defensive Effort Leads University of Delaware Volleyball Past Hofstra, 3-1, Clinching CAA Playoff Berth
11/4/2011 5:49:00 PM | Volleyball
NEWARK, Del. -- A stingy defensive effort by the University of Delaware volleyball team paved the way for a redemption victory Friday night at Viera Court as the Blue Hens posted a 3-1 win over Hofstra to stay alive in the Colonial Athletic Association regular season title hunt.
Set scores for the match were 25-20, 25-12, 23-25, and 25-20.
Delaware (15-12, 8-3 CAA) dropped its first matchup of the season against Hofstra (13-15, 4-7 CAA) on Long Island on Oct. 2 in straight sets, but rebounded with a dominating performance at the net Friday evening.
With the win, the Blue Hens secured a berth into the upcoming CAA Tournament as the field expanded to six teams in 2011. The victory enables Delaware to finish no worse than sixth place with three matches left to play.
The Hens will take on league-leading Northeastern in its final regular season home game of the season Saturday night at 7 p.m. at Viera Court. The Huskies, a team the Hens beat 3-0 back in October, moved into sole possession of first place with a 3-2 win over Towson Saturday night in Towson, Md. Delaware and Towson are now tied for second in the league standing, one game back of Northeastern.
The Blue Hens' defense held the Pride to a .066 hitting percentage for the match, including a negative .029 mark in the second set. Delaware also collected 12 team blocks while Hofstra tallied just five.
“This was a weird match because neither team had any outside hitting,” head coach Bonnie Kenny said. “Our right side and our middles won this match for us. Alissa Alker came along real nice for us tonight.”
Alker (above right) finished with a match-high 17 kills and added 12 digs for her 10th double-double of the year. She was the lone Hen in double-digit kills, but middles Chelsea Lawrence (below right) and Karina Evans didn't register an error on the night. Lawrence had eight kills on 16 swings while Evans finished with six kills on 10 swings.
Evans also led the block brigade as she tallied three solo blocks and was in on four block assists. Alker and Lawrence also contributed four block assists with Lawrence adding a solo block.
“This team killed us last time we played them,” Kenny said of the October 2 loss in Hempstead, N.Y. “They didn't just beat us, they killed us with their speed and their tempo. We were able to slow them down tonight with our outside blockers. We responded well to the tempo of their offense tonight.”
Taylor Moore and Ericka Charry paced the offense for the Pride as they were the only Hofstra members to record double-digit kills. Moore finished with 13 while Ericka Charry tallied 12. Catalina Charry finished with a match-high 42 assists on the night while libero Kylee Maneja contributed a match-high 17 digs.
Prior to Saturday's match vs. Northeastern, the UD coaching staff will honor the team's two seniors - Renee Tomko and Kim Stewart - before their final home game.
AGATE:
Delaware def. Hofstra, 3-1 (25-20, 25-14, 23-25, 25-20)
Delaware (kills-assists-digs): Hank (6-0-3); Tomko (0-38-10); Stewart (4-1-15); Alker (17-1-12); Lawrence (8-1-1); Evans (6-0-2); Rosehill (0-0-8); Reigel (0-0-1); Walton (0-0-3).
Hofstra: Kinnier (5-0-5); Wills (9-0-8); Moore (13-1-1); E. Charry (12-1-4); C. Charry (3-42-9); Whitney (7-1-0); Maneja (0-2-17); DeCoster (0-0-9).
Total Team Blocks Delaware 12; Hofstra 5
