University of Delaware Athletics
Blue Hen Volleyball Opens 2012 Home Season This Weekend; Hosts Columbia, Texas A&M, Xavier in 36th Annual Delaware Invitational
9/6/2012 4:05:00 PM | Volleyball
The Blue Hens, playing their home games at the Carpenter Center for the first time, welcome Columbia, Texas A&M and Xavier to Newark for the tournament. Texas A&M will face Xavier in Friday's first match at 10 a.m., followed by Delaware taking on Columbia at 12 noon. The night session will feature Columbia against Xavier at 5 p.m. and Delaware versus Texas A&M at 7 p.m.
The invitational concludes on Saturday when Columbia faces Texas A&M ta 4:30 p.m., followed by Delaware taking on Xavier at 7 p.m.
The Blue Hens enter the weekend with a 1-4 record, which includes a 3-1 victory over Lehigh last Friday in Delaware's first match of the Holiday Inn Jefferson Cup hosted by the University of Virginia.
Senior outside hitter Alissa Alker, a Preseason All-Colonial Athletic Association selection, leads the Blue Hens with 37 kills and 2.31 kills per game this year, and also ranks second on the squad with 46 digs. Fellow senior and preseason all-conference pick Chelsea Lawrence has added 26 kills this season while ranking second on the team with 13 blocks.
Junior Katie Hank (at right) has contributed 32 kills on the year, while freshman Katie Hillman has recorded 31 kills to go with a team-high 15 blocks. Freshman Mackenzie Olsen has dished out 140 assists through five matches, while fellow rookie Ariel Shonk leads the young Blue Hen squad with 75 digs.
Texas A&M enters play with a 5-1 record with its only loss coming to fifth-ranked USC, and is receiving votes in the latest AVCA poll. Lindsay Miller has recorded team-highs of 54 kills and 24 blocks for the Aggies, who captured the Yale Classic last weekend.
Columbia is 1-2 on the young season, as the Lions fell to Central Florida and Liberty before defeating Jacksonville last weekend at the Central Florida Classic. Caitlin Brenton paces Columbia with 27 kills on the year, while Atlanta Moye-McLaren has added 16 kills, 26 digs and a team-leading 10 blocks.
Xavier enters the weekend with a 5-3 record following a 3-2 victory at Miami (Ohio) on Tuesday. Sarah Brown leads the Musketeers with 87 kills, while Stephanie Vorherr leads the squad with 141 digs and became the school's career leader in that category during the win over the RedHawks.
Following this weekend's action, the Blue Hens remain home to host Georgetown on Tuesday at 7 p.m. at the Bob Carpenter Center.
