University of Delaware Athletics
Delaware Volleyball Closes Out Regular Season With 3-0 Victory Over UNCW; Earns No. 2 Seed in CAA Tournament
11/10/2012 2:50:00 PM | Volleyball
The Blue Hens won their third straight match and their 12th of the last 14 contests to finish the regular season over the .500 mark at 15-13 overall and 9-3 in league play.
Delaware, which has won the last two Colonial Athletic Association Tournament titles, has earned the second seed in this year's league tournament which will be held on November 16-18 at regular season champion Towson.
The Hens will face either Northeastern or James Madison in the first semifinal match on Friday, Nov. 17 at 4 p.m.
Blue Hen junior outside hitter Katie Hank led Delaware with 12 kills against just four attack errors to hit .333 for the match, while freshman Katie Hillman added 11 kills to hit .276 on the night.
Senior outside hitter Alissa Alker had 10 digs and six kills during her final home match, freshman setter Mackenzie Olsen contributed 30 assists and seven digs, and freshman libero Ariel Shonk posted a match-high 17 digs.
Christi Laite recorded a team-high 10 kills and hit .350 for the Seahawks, who ended their season at 11-17 overall and 3-9 in the CAA. Victoria Phillips and Natalie Lehaie each dished out 14 assists for UNCW, while Haley Collins posted 13 digs.
Delaware has now won the last 16 meetings between the two schools and improved to 23-3 all-time against the Seahawks, who have not defeated the Blue Hens since the 2003 season.
UNCW took a 10-7 advantage in the opening set, before Delaware reeled off five consecutive points to take the lead for good. The Blue Hens led by as many as five points in the set, before a kill by Alker put the set away.
The Blue Hens rode that momentum into the second frame as they jumped out to a 7-2 advantage, but the Seahawks quickly answered to pull even at 9-9. The teams were still knotted at 15-15 but Delaware would take control from there by winning 10 of the final 12 points, ending the set with a service ace by senior Chelsea Lawrence.
UNCW again surged ahead in the third set by going in front 11-7, and the Seahawks still led by three at 18-15 midway through the set. However Delaware responded with a six-point run to grab the advantage for good, and after the Seahawks won a point, the Blue Hens claimed the final four points to end the match.
