University of Delaware Athletics
University of Delaware
La Salle
Blue Hens Win Radisson Cross Keys Greyhound Challenge Title With 3-0 Victories Over La Salle and Loyola (Md.)
9/7/2013 9:47:00 PM | Volleyball
• Delaware-La Salle Boxscore / PDF
• Delaware-Loyola (Md.) Boxscore / PDF
BALTIMORE, Md. – The University of Delaware volleyball team posted a pair of impressive 3-0 victories over La Salle and host Loyola (Md.) as the Blue Hens claimed the Radisson Cross Keys Greyhound Challenge on Saturday at Reitz Arena.
In its afternoon match Delaware defeated La Salle by set scores of 25-17, 25-17, 25-19, while the Blue Hens again won in three sets over the Greyhounds 25-14, 25-14, 25-21 during the tournament's final match. The Blue Hens won their first in-season outright tournament title since taking the 2010 Delaware Invitational at the Carpenter Sports Building.
UD sophomore outside hitter Katie Hillman, who led the Blue Hens in kills during all three matches on the weekend, was named the invitational's Most Valuable Player. Hillman was joined on the All-Tournament Team by two other Delaware sophomores, setter Mackenzie Olsen and libero Ariel Shonk.
Hillman recorded a match-high 16 kills against just one attack error as she hit an impressive .417 during the win over the Explorers, while senior Katie Hank added 15 kills in the win.
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Megan Blunden added nine kills and Chandler Bryant chipped in with eight for the Blue Hens, while Olsen handed out 45 assists and Shonk led the defensive effort with 22 digs.
After the opening set was tied at 4-4, the Blue Hens took the next three points and led the rest of the way. A six-point run extended the margin to 19-10 as UD cruised to the set victory, and Delaware did not trail during the second set while also taking the stanza by eight points. The third set remained close throughout, but Delaware eventually built a five-point lead before Hank ended the match with a kill.
Hillman again led the way against Loyola (Md.) by notching 13 kills, while Bryant and Hank each contributed 12 while making only two attack errors. Olsen dished out 37 assists, while Hank and Shonk recorded eight digs apiece.
Delaware trailed 8-5 in the first set, but quickly ran off six consecutive points and led the rest of the way. The Blue Hens were up 19-14 but closed the set with another six-point run, culminated with a Hillman service ace. UD then jumped out to an 11-3 edge during the second set, and were not threatened from there. The teams remained even for a majority of the third set, but after the score was knotted at 21-21, Delaware won the final four points to clinch the victory.
“We played very well this weekend,” said Blue Hen head coach Bonnie Kenny. “I am really proud; we executed and improved our serving and passing, pin blocking, and terminating! We had excellent distribution on offense, and served and passed extremely well. It is hard to single out individuals because as a team we hit several of our standards and played GOOD Delaware Blue Hen volleyball!”
Saturday Notes:
• Katie Hank and Katie Hillman each reached double digit kills during all three matches at the tournament
• Chandler Bryant's 12 kills vs. Loyola were a season-high
• Delaware hit .336 vs. La Salle and .359 against Loyola
• After recording just four digs through the first four matches of the season, Hank notched 15 during Saturday's two contests
• Olsen averaged 45.7 assists during the weekend's three victories
• Delaware improved to 26-1 all-time against La Salle and 34-3 versus the Greyhounds
