University of Delaware Athletics
Offense Takes Over as Delaware Volleyball Sweeps Delaware State in Route 1 Rivalry, 3-0
9/20/2011 6:51:00 PM | Volleyball
NEWARK, Del. -- The University of Delaware volleyball team hit .467 for the match, gliding past Delaware State, 3-0, in the latest edition of the Route 1 Rivalry on Viera Court Tuesday night.
Set scores for the match were 25-15, 25-14 and 25-9.
The victory was Delaware's (6-9) fourth in the late five matches dating back to last Tuesday against Temple.
“I thought we played very well tonight,” head coach Bonnie Kenny said. “Our offense was awesome. It starts with our passing. Renee (Tomko) distributed the ball very well; her location was excellent. I thought we carried over form our last three games at Pitt. And I thought we were absolutely dominate at the net, which was what we needed to do.”
Katie Hank (above right) led the offense again for the Blue Hens, tallying 16 kills on 26 swings while not committing an error. Hank was coming off a 31 kill performance against Pittsburgh, the third most all-time in a single match. Tonight, she led Delaware with a .615 attack percentage from the outside. She also contributed eight digs on the back line.
Alissa Alker was the only other player to reach double digit kills for the match. She took 18 swings, committing only two errors to hit at a .500 clip.
“I think Katie Hank is coming into her own,” Kenny continued. “She didn't get a lot of game experience last year. She has the best hand placement on the ball better than anyone I've ever coached. She's coming into her own in the backcourt as a passer and a defender. She's never had to do that before. I'm proud of her. I'm proud of the way she's playing.”
The Blue Hens jumped all over Delaware State (1-11) from the opening serve of the match and never let their foot off the gas. An 8-1 surge gave them a 20-8 lead in the first set. A dump from Tomko gave the Hens set point, and Hank finished off the Hornets with her fifth kill of the game.
Leading 13-10 in the second frame, the Hens rode a 9-1 run to open up the set and grab control of the match. Back-to-back-to-back kills by Hank, Karina Evans and Tomko ended the game 25-14. In the third set, the Blue Hens hit .600, committing only one error while not allowing the Hornets back into the contest.
They jumped out to an 8-1 lead aided by three kills by Hank and two from Alker. A 6-0 run in the middle of the game gave the home squad a 19-7 lead and the ability to cruise to the finish line. Alker finished off the in-state rivals with her 11th kill of the night.
Tomko finished with a match high 34 assists while Rachel Oemcke took over the setter position mid-way through the third game and collected four assists.
Cara Rosehill led the Hens with 14 digs, while Kim Stewart was the only other hen in double figures with 10.
Jess Croucher had nine kills to lead the Hornets.Christobel Fakaosi dished out 20 helpers on the night; while Sonja Banicevic had a match high 20 digs for Delaware State.
The Hens return to action on Friday as the Colonial Athletic Association schedule begins with a bout at rival Towson starting at 7 p.m.
AGATE:
Delaware def. Delaware State, 3-0 (25-15, 25-14, 25-9)
Delaware (kills-assists-digs): Hank (16-0-8); Tomko (2-34-5); Stewart (6-1-10); Alker (11-1-4); Lawrence (7-0-1); Evans (7-0-2); Rosehill (0-2-14); Reigel (0-0-1); Oemcke (0-4-0).
Delaware State: Fakaosi (4-20-4); Russel-Croucher (9-0-3); Davis (5-0-0); Redmon (1-0-0); Schieder (3-0-2); Herrmann (3-0-2); McDonald (0-0-0): Barnes (1-0-0); Banicevic (0-2-20); Inderbitzin (0-1-4).
Total Team Blocks: Delaware 3.5, Delaware State 2
