University of Delaware Athletics
No. 17 California Too Much for Blue Hens as Delaware Closes out West Coast Trip with 3-0 Setback
8/25/2012 7:45:00 PM | Volleyball
The Blue Hens, playing in their second and final game of the Aztec Invitational at San Diego State University's Aztec Court, fell to 0-2 on the year with a 3-0 setback to the Bears.
California, which went 26-7 a year ago and like Delaware advanced to the NCAA Tournament, downed the Hens by scores of 25-11, 25-13, and 25-20 in its season opener. Delaware had fallen to host San Diego State 3-0 in its season opener Friday night.
Despite the loss, Delaware all-region outside hitter Alissa Alker (at right) reached an impressive milestone before her hometown crowd as she recorded a team-high six kills and surpassed the 1,000-kill mark for her career. The senior lefthander is only the 17th player in UD history to reach that lofty plateau.
Alker also contributed eight digs on the day while junior Katie Hank had five kills, freshman Mackenzie Olsen added 18 assists and eight digs, and freshman Ariel Shonk chipped in with seven digs.
Alker was named to the Azetec Invitational All-Tournament team and was joined by Adrienne Gehan of California and Andrea Hannasch, and Michelle Waber of San Diego State.
California hit .333 or better in every set and finished the match with an impressive hitting percentage of .391. Gehan led the way for the Golden Bears with 18 kills, 10 digs, and four block assists while Christina Higgins added seven kills and Joan Caloiro and Lindsey Parrott added 19 and 15 assists respectively.
The Blue Hens will continue action on the road next week when they travel to the University of Virginia to take on the host Cavaliers, Lehigh, and Western Kentucky in the Holiday Inn Jefferson Cup Tournament beginning Aug. 30.
AGATE:
#17 California def. Delaware (25-11, 25-13, 25-20)
Delaware (Kills-Digs-Blocks-Assists): Hank, 5-2-0-0, Olsen, 1-8-0-18, Hillman, 3-7-2-0, Bryant, 3-0-2-0, Alker, 6-8-1-1, Lawrence, 2-0-1-0, Meyers, 1-1-0-0, Shonk, 0-7-0-1, Krapf, 0-2-0-0, Reigel, 0-1-0-0, Oemcke, 0-0-0-2, Evans, 0-0-0-0, Sebastian, 3-0-0-0, Totals, 24-36-3-22.
California: Gombar, 2-8-0-1, Vukasovic, 6-2-3-0, Gehan, 18-10-4-2, Hawari, 4-6-0-0, Brown, 4-4-1-1, Caloiro, 2-10-1-19, McKennon, 0-7-0-3, Parrott, 1-3-0-15, Davis, 0-5-0-0, Higgins, 7-0-1-0, Totals, 44-49-9-41.
Attendance: 159
