University of Delaware Athletics
University of Delaware
Wisconsin
Blue Hens Fall To Wisconsin and Iona by 3-0 Scores Saturday at Pepperdine Asics Classic
8/31/2013 5:25:00 PM | Volleyball
The Badgers defeated Delaware 25-20, 25-13, 25-16 during the afternoon session, while the Blue Hens suffered a 25-16, 25-21, 21-19 verdict to the Gaels during the evening session.
Redshirt freshman Liz Brock (at right) led the Blue Hens against Wisconsin with a career-high eight kills, while Chandler Bryant contributed five for Delaware. Mackenzie Olsen handed out 21 assists on the afternoon, while fellow sophomore Ariel Shonk recorded a team-high 10 digs.
Dominique Thompson and Ellen Chapman each had 10 kills and while combining for only one attack error for the Badgers (2-0), who hit .376 for the match. Courtney Thomas led Wisconsin with 27 assists and five blocks, while Annemarie Hickey paced all players with 12 digs.
The first set remained tight throughout, but after the Blue Hens and Badgers were tied at 17-17, Wisconsin reeled off six consecutive points to take control. Delaware answered with three straight points, but the Badgers recorded the next two points to put the set away.
The Blue Hens were down just a point early in the second set at 5-4, but Wisconsin used a 10-0 spurt to take control. Delaware answered with two consecutive points, but would not get closer as the Badgers cruised to the 12-point set victory.
Wisconsin led by only a pair at 7-5 during the early stages of the third set, but then won 12 of the next 16 points to go in front 19-9. The Blue Hens countered with three straight points but would not threaten the rest of the way.
“We came out and played a tad bit better in game one,” said 12th-year Blue Hen head coach Bonnie Kenny. “We have to find a couple outside hitters who can terminate. Our attack is not generating kills. Another weakness is our serving. We have to serve tough enough and take a team out of their system, and not allow them to attack at will and have all of their options.”
During the Blue Hens' second match of the day, sophomore Katie Hillman paced Delaware with 12 kills while Katie Hank added eight and Brock contributed seven. Olsen handed out 28 assists during the contest, while Shonk posted a match-high 14 digs and freshman Taylor Hollingsworth chipped in with nine.
Taylor Cembalisty had 12 kills and no attack errors while hitting .462 for the match for Iona, while Catrina Warren also had 12 kills to lead the Gaels.
Iona scored five of the first six points of the contest and eventually upped its lead to seven points at 13-6 in the opening set. The Gaels led by as many as 10 points during the opening set before taking the stanza, 25-16.
The second set was more of the same, as again Iona jumped out to a 5-1 advantage. The Blue Hens remained within striking distance and closed within 21-20 on a Hillman kill, but the Gaels closed the set by winning four of the final five points.
Iona then scored the first three points of the final set and led the entire way. A three-point UD run featuring a pair of blocks by Bryant and a kill by Lauren Talley brought the Blue Hens within 21-18, but Delaware would not get closer.
"Well, we definitely need to get back in the gym and get better," Kenny stated. "This was a weekend that totally exploited us. Iona was an aggressive, feisty team that came down our throats every single opportunity they could, and we did not respond. This was a tough road trip we obviously were not ready for, and that is on all of us! We have four days to prepare and we will get better as a team!"
Match Notes:
• Delaware has opened a season with three consecutive losses for the first time since the 2008 season
• Wisconsin and Delaware faced each other for the first time in school history
• 13 of the 14 Blue Hen players saw action against Wisconsin
• Iona defeated Delaware for the first time in four all-time meetings between the schools
• The Blue Hens never led against the Gaels
• Katie Hillman reached double digits in kills for the 13th time in her career vs. Iona
• Ariel Shonk, who led Delaware in digs during all three matches, represented UD on the All-Tournament Team
• Delaware returns to action next Friday and Saturday with three matches at the Radisson Cross Keys Greyhound Challenge hosted by Loyola (Md.)
