University of Delaware Athletics
University of Delaware Volleyball Uses Big Block Advantage To Record 3-0 Victory Over Georgetown
9/11/2012 4:12:00 PM | Volleyball
NEWARK, Del. -- The University of Delaware volleyball team used a commanding advantage in blocks to post a 3-0 victory over Georgetown University Tuesday night at the Bob Carpenter Center. The Blue Hens dispatched the Hoyas by game scores of 25-20, 25-18 and 25-13.
Delaware, which snapped a five-matching losing streak while improving to 2-7 on the year, won for the first time in four matches at the BCC this season. Georgetown, which had won 17 of 19 meetings against the Blue Hens, fell to 6-3 as UD recorded its first win over the Hoyas since 1986.
Delaware posted 12 team blocks on the night, including a season-high seven by senior middle hitter Chelsea Lawrence, while Georgetown could muster just one. The Blue Hens hit .284 for the match, while limiting Georgetown to just a .101 hitting percentage.
Blue Hen senior outside hitter Alissa Alker (at left) led the way with 11 kills and 10 digs, while junior outside hitter Katie Hank (at right) added eight kills against just one attack error to hit .269 for the match and also contributed two blocks on the evening. Freshman Ariel once again led Delaware with 15 digs, while junior Kori Reigel added 11 digs and freshman Mackenzie Olsen handed out 29 assists.
Alex Johnson paced Georgetown with 13 kills, while MacKenzie Simpson posted a team-high 12 digs.
Delaware scored the first three points during the opening set and never trailed during the game. The Hoyas pulled within 11-10, but Katie Hillman recorded a kill before consecutive blocks extended the Blue Hen advantage out to 14-10. The lead grew to as much as six at 18-12 on a kill by Hank, and after Georgetown closed to within four points, an attack error by Johnson gave the opening set to Delaware.
The second stanza was close for most of the way, as Georgetown held a slim 17-16 lead. But kills by Hillman, Hank and Lawrence gave Delaware the lead for good, and after the score was 20-18, Delaware ran off the final five points of the set to take a two-game lead.
The Blue Hens again never trailed during the third set, using a six-point run to take a commanding 16-7 lead midway through the game. The Hoyas eventually pulled within 20-13, but again Delaware reeled off the final five points to take the set, clinching the match when Alker and Lawrence combined to block an attack by the Hoyas' Lauren Saar.
Delaware is back in action this weekend when the Blue Hens play three matches at the Northwestern Tournament in Evanston, Ill. UD will take on the host Wildcats at 1 p.m. and Western Michigan at 6 p.m. on Friday before facing Saint Louis at 8:30 p.m. on Saturday.
