University of Delaware Athletics
UD Opens 2013 Season at Pepperdine Asics Classic
8/29/2013 5:25:00 PM | Volleyball
MALIBU, Calif. – The University of Delaware volleyball team opens its 2013 campaign this weekend when the Blue Hens play three matches at the Pepperdine Asics Classic.
The Blue Hens, led by 12th-year head coach Bonnie Kenny, are coming off a 2012 season in which Delaware went 16-14, finished second in the Colonial Athletic Association standings with a 9-3 league mark, and advanced to the CAA Tournament championship match.
The Blue Hens kick off their campaign on Friday when they take on the host Waves at 10:30 p.m. ET at Firestone Fieldhouse. Delaware will then face Wisconsin on Saturday at 3:30 p.m. ET, before taking on Iona at 8 p.m. ET that night.
UD will be paced by a pair of 2012 CAA All-Rookie Team selections in Mackenzie Olsen and Ariel Shonk. Olsen started all 30 matches during her freshman campaign, ranking second in the league with 10.00 assists per set and finishing third on the Blue Hens with 251 digs. Shonk was tabbed the conference Defensive Specialist of the Year and picked up third team All-CAA honors after leading the league with 5.68 digs per set, the second highest average in a UD single season.
Both sophomores earned preseason conference accolades this season, as Shonk was picked to the All-CAA Preseason Team while Olsen was an honorable mention selection. The Blue Hens were selected third out of eight teams in the CAA Preseason Poll.
Sophomore Katie Hillman, who ranked second on the Blue Hens with 255 kills a year ago, and senior Katie Hank, who ranked third with 249 kills, each appeared in all 30 matches in 2012 and return as outside hitters. Redshirt sophomore Chandler Bryant started all 30 matches while posting 89 kills and 74 blocks as a middle hitter, while senior Kori Reigel was one of four players to appear in all 109 sets and contributed 186 digs on the year.
Pepperdine, which is receiving votes in the preseason AVCA Coaches Poll, went 20-12 last season and earned a berth in the NCAA Tournament. Wisconsin finished 17-16 during the 2012 campaign, while Iona was 10-19 a year ago.
Delaware dropped its only previous match to Pepperdine during the 2008 season, and has won all three of its prior contests against Iona. Saturday's match with Wisconsin will be the Blue Hens' first ever versus the Badgers.
