University of Delaware Athletics
Hank Tallies 31 Kills as Delaware Volleyball Completes Monstrous Comeback Over Host Pittsburgh, 3-2; Hens Fall to New Mexico 3-1
9/17/2011 6:47:00 PM | Volleyball
PITTSBURGH, Pa. -- For the first time since 2007, a University of Delaware volleyball team member notched 30 kills, as Katie Hank helped the Blue Hens out of a 2-0 hole to comeback and defeat host Pittsburgh, 3-2, at the Pitt Blue and Gold Tournament on Saturday night.
Set scores for the match were 24-26, 23-25, 25-21, 25-21, and 15-13.
In the first match of the day, Delaware fell to New Mexico by a 3-1 score, falling 21-25, 25-13, 25-16, 25-23.
The 31 kills were the third most all-time in school history and the first time since Colleen Walsh tallied 30 against William & Mary in 2007 in five sets. Walsh also collected 32 against the Tribe the year before.
For the tournament, Hank (above right) collected 60 kills, averaging 4.17 a set. She also averaged three digs a set. Alissa Alker (below left) tallied 40 kills over the three matches while also averaging three digs a set. For their efforts, Hank and Alker were named to the all-tournament team for Delaware (5-9).
The third, fourth and fifth sets were all about late game runs to help UD get back into the match. Tied at 19 in the third set, the Hens went on a 6-2 run to finish the third game and climb back into the contest.
The fourth set was more of the same, as the two teams were tied at 15 before the Hens went on a six-point swing to grab control of the set. Chelsea Lawrence tied the match at two sets a piece with a kill from Renee Tomko.
In the fifth and deciding set, Pittsburgh (10-4) went up 9-6 but a 4-1 run, capped by a Hank kill, put Delaware back in the match. Trailing 11-10, another kill from Hank and a Pitt attack error gave UD the lead for the first time in the set.
The teams traded points once again to tie the set at 13-13, but a kill by Alker gave the Hens match point and a final attack error by the Panthers completed the comeback at 15-13.
Tomko ended the match with 60 assists and 11 digs. Stewart posted 21 digs, while Cara Rosehill had a team-high 23.
In the first game of the day, the Hens took the first set from the Lobos, but couldn't keep the momentum as they dropped the next three sets.
Hank controlled both sides of the ball for UD with a team high 14 kills and a career best 17 digs. She hit .325 for the match; taking 40 swings while only committing one error.
Alker was the only other Hen in double digit kills with 12. She also tallied a double-double by collecting 18 digs.
Pittsburgh, New Mexico and Delaware all went 2-1 for the tournament, ending in a three-way tie for the tournament championship.
Joining Alker and Hank on the All-Tournament Team were Temple's Gabriella Matautia, New Mexico's Ashley Rhoades and Allison Buck, and Pittsburgh's Margy Acton and Monica Wignot.
Delaware returns to action, and to Viera Court, on Tuesday as the Hens welcome in-state rival Delaware State for the seventh edition of the Route 1 Rivalry. Delaware is 6-0 all time against the Hornets. The match is set to begin at 7 p.m.
AGATE:
Delaware def. Pittsburgh, 3-2 (24-26, 25-23, 25-21, 25-21, 15-13)
Delaware (kills-assists-digs): Hank (31-0-11); Tomko (0-60-11); Stewart (10-2-21); Alker (18-2-17); Lawrence (10-0-2); Evans (4-0-3); Rosehill (0-4-23); Reigel (0-0-3).
Pittsburgh: Clesen (0-0-12); Zitzke (2-65-18); White (7-0-1); Dittrich (10-0-1); Leggs (23-0-1); Wignot (17-1-15); Guess (13-1-1); Acton (1-5-37); Campbell (0-0-6); Hartman (0-0-0); Nicholas (0-0-0); Yeazel (0-0-0).
Total Team Blocks: Delaware 8; Pittsburgh 10
New Mexico def. Delaware, 3-1 (21-25, 25-13, 25-16 and 25-23)
Delaware (kills-assists-digs): Hank (14-0-17); Tomko (1-39-14); Stewart (8-2-18); Alker (12-0-13); Lawrence (6-0-4); Evans (5-0-5); Rosehill (0-3-24); Reigel (0-0-0); Oemcke (0-0-0).
New Mexico: Agre (6-45-19); Rhoades (14-1-4); Ross (2-0-0); Fisher (0-2-15); Williamson (23-1-12); Krieg (3-1-0); Riddle (9-1-2); Russell (0-0-0); Buck (0-4-36); Trombley (4-0-0); Lovato (0-2-18).
Total Team Blocks: Delaware 9; New Mexico 6
Pitt Blue and Gold All-Tournament Team:
Gabriella Matautia, Temple; Katie Hank, Delaware; Alissa Alker, Delaware; Margy Acton, Pitt; Monica Wignot, Pitt; Ashley Rhoades, New Mexico; Allison Buck, New Mexico.
