University of Delaware Athletics
Blue Hens Back in Action This Weekend at Loyola (Md.) Radisson Cross Keys Greyhound Challenge
9/5/2013 4:44:00 PM | Volleyball
The Blue Hens dropped their first three matches of the season at the Pepperdine Asics Classic, but will attempt to get on track on Friday when Delaware opens play at the invitational with a 4:30 p.m. match against UMBC at Reitz Arena.
UD will then take on La Salle on Saturday at 11 a.m., before facing the host Greyhounds in the tournament's final match at 7 p.m. that evening.
Sophomore Katie Hillman (at right) paced the Blue Hens with 20 kills during the team's opening weekend at Pepperdine, while redshirt freshman Liz Brock and senior Katie Hank added 17 apiece. Sophomore Mackenzie Olsen handed out 64 assists for Delaware, while classmate Ariel Shonk collected 35 digs as she represented the Blue Hens on the All-Tournament Team.
UMBC enters this weekend with a 1-3 overall record, although the Retrievers' lone victory was an impressive 3-0 decision over Maryland. UMBC dropped its other matches at the season-opening George Washington Tournament, and fell to George Mason during its home opener on Wednesday. Sherelle Walker is pacing the Retrievers with 41 kills on the year, while Casey Griffith has posted a team-leading 50 digs.
La Salle opened its season with a 3-0 home win over Fairleigh Dickinson, but has dropped four consecutive matches since. Kelly Perillo has posted a team-high 61 kills for the Explorers, while Laura Kuhlmeier has chipped in with 45 to go with a team-leading 69 digs.
Loyola (Md.) opened its season with three matches at the Appalachian State Invitational, winning its match against Norfolk State while dropping two others. Faye Lukas leads the Greyhounds with 28 kills thus far, while Jac Bullock has added 27 kills on the year.
Delaware holds a 23-7 all-time advantage over UMBC and has won the last three meetings in the series, including a 3-0 triumph in 2008. The Blue Hens have taken 25 of their 26 meetings with La Salle with their last victory coming in 2010, and are 33-3 against Loyola (Md.), although the teams have not met since the 2007 season.
Following this weekend's action, Delaware will be back on the road on Tuesday, September 10 with a 7 p.m. match at Penn. The Blue Hens will then host the Delaware Invitational next Friday and Saturday featuring home matches against Rutgers, Sacred Heart and Furman.
