University of Delaware Athletics
Blue Hen Volleyball Team Set To Host 38th Annual University of Delaware Invitational This Weekend
9/11/2014 11:55:00 AM | Volleyball
NEWARK, Del. -- The University of Delaware volleyball team will host its second tournament of the season this weekend as the Blue Hens welcome George Mason, Manhattan and Princeton for the 38th Annual University of Delaware Invitational.
The tournament opens on Friday with Princeton taking on George Mason at 11 a.m. at the Bob Carpenter Center, before the Blue Hens face Manhattan at 1 p.m. George Mason and Manhattan will then face off at 4:30 p.m., while Delaware and Princeton will wrap up the day's action at 7 p.m.
Princeton will battle Manhattan Saturday at 10 a.m., before the tournament concludes with the Blue Hens facing George Mason at 12 noon.
Delaware enters the weekend with a 5-3 record, having won two straight matches and four of its last five contests. Sophomore outside hitter Autumn Jenkins leads the Blue Hens and ranks eighth in the Colonial Athletic Association with 3.07 digs per set, while junior Katie Hillman ranks second on the squad with 2.86 kills per set and sophomore Alexa Swann is posting a team-high .286 attack percentage.
Sophomore libero Taylor Hollingsworth has led UD in digs during all eight matches and ranks second in the conference with 4.50 digs per set, while classmate Erin Layne is sixth in the league by averaging 6.07 assists per set. Freshman Daria Robinson, the current CAA Co-Rookie of the Week, leads the Blue Hens with 31 blocks, while her 1.15 block average is good for seventh in the conference.
George Mason is just 1-6 on the season, with the Patriots' lone victory coming last weekend over CAA foe William & Mary. Morghan Martin leads Mason with 2.42 kills per set and Kelly Schaller is handing out 6.56 assists per set, while five Patriots have already reached the 50-digs mark on the year.
Manhattan has won six of its first seven matches on the season, and took two of three contests last weekend at the St. Francis Brooklyn Terrier Invitational. Malia McGuinness is averaging a team-high 3.38 kills per set for the Jaspers, with Teodara Peric dishing out 9.16 assists per set and Allie Yamashiro is posting a 4.42 digs average.
Princeton opened its campaign last weekend at the Temple Invitational, defeating Holy Cross while falling to Charlotte and the host Owls. Kendall Peterkin blasted 58 kills at the tournament, averaging 4.46 kills per set, while Lauren Miller handed out 11.77 assists per set. Peterkin (4.15) and Sarah Daschbach (4.08) are each averaging over four digs per set.
Delaware is 21-19 against George Mason, as the teams met every year from 2001-12 as members of the CAA. Delaware has taken 13 of the last 14 meetings between the two schools. Princeton leads the all-time series over UD, 15-12, although the Blue Hens have captured the last three matchups including the previous meeting in 2009. Friday's match will be the first ever meeting between Delaware and Manhattan.
During Friday's afternoon match with Manhattan, all UD faculty/staff will receive free admission by showing their UD ID in advance at the Delaware Ticket Office or on gameday. A $5 lunch combo featuring a regular hot dog, chips and soda will also be offered at the concession stand for UD faculty/staff who show their UD ID. Delaware's match that evening with Princeton will feature High School Team Night, as all high school girls volleyball teams in Delaware as well as those in Maryland, Pennsylvania, and New Jersey within a 60-mile radius will receive complimentary admission to the match.
Additionally Fan Cards compliments of the UD Courtyard by Marriott will be distributed to the first 300 fans during all three of the Blue Hens' matches during the weekend.
Fans are welcome to park in the main Bob Carpenter Center lot on Friday. Due to football gameday parking on Saturday, volleyball fans should park across the street from the Delaware Field House at the STAR campus lot. Shuttle service to The BOB will begin at 9:30 a.m. and conclude at 12 noon.
