University of Delaware Athletics
Blue Hens Conclude University of Delaware Volleyball Invitational With 3-0 Setback To Xavier
9/8/2012 4:09:00 PM | Volleyball
NEWARK, Del. -- The Blue Hen volleyball team wrapped up play at the 36th Annual University of Delaware Invitational with a 3-0 loss to Xavier Saturday night at the Bob Carpenter Center, falling by game scores of 25-15, 25-23 and 25-18.
Senior outside hitter Alissa Alker (at right) led the Blue Hens (1-7) with a team-high 12 kills to hit .206 for the match, while also adding six digs and three blocks. Freshman Liz Brock contributed five kills during the contest, while fellow rookie Ariel Shonk (at left) added 14 digs and classmate Mackenzie Olsen dished out 22 assists. Redshirt freshman Chandler Bryant recorded a team-high five blocks as Delaware posted six team blocks, the second most by the Blue Hens this season.
Alex Smith paced the Xavier (7-4) attack with 10 kills and just one error to hit .600 for the match, and also tied for the team lead with five blocks. Sarah Brown recorded a team-best 11 kills for the Musketeers, while adding eight digs and five blocks as well. Aubree Smith notched a double-double with 28 assists and 10 digs, while Stephanie Vorherr led Xavier with 13 digs on the night.
The Musketeers wasted little time in taking control of the first set as four straight kills, including three by Brown, gave Xavier an early 10-2 lead. Xavier led by as many as 10 points four times during the set, while a kill by Ame White closed out the game to give the Musketeers a 1-0 lead.
Delaware responded by scoring the first four points of the second set, and after Xavier rallied to tie it at 10-10, the Blue Hens answered with three consecutive points to go back up 13-10. Delaware maintained its advantage throughout the majority of the set and still led 22-21, but Xavier took four of the final five points and put the game away on a White kill.
The Musketeers used an early six-point run to take the lead in the third set, but Delaware countered with three straight points of its own to go up 12-10 on an Alker kill. The Blue Hens were within 16-15 later in the game, before Xavier won five of the next six points to extend to a 21-16 advantage. The Blue Hens pulled within 22-18, but kills by Makayla Agin and White were followed with an Xavier block as the Musketeers iced the victory.
In the first match of the day, Texas A&M posted a 3-0 victory over Columbia by game scores of 25-20, 25-19 and 25-15. The Aggies, who are receiving votes in this week's AVCA Coaches' Poll, won the team championship at the tournament by capturing all three of their matches.
Texas A&M's Alisia Kastmo was named the invitational's Most Valuable Player, and was joined on the All-Tournament Team by teammates Allie Sawatzky and Tori Mellinger. Also selected to the squad were Sarah Brown and Alex Smith of Xavier, Ariel Shonk of Delaware, and Molly Winger of Columbia.
The Blue Hens remain home on Tuesday to host Georgetown in a 7 p.m. match at the Bob Carpenter Center.
