University of Delaware Athletics
Delaware Volleyball Closes Non-Conference Slate This Weekend at Pitt Panther Invitational
9/18/2014 1:28:00 PM | Volleyball
PITTSBURGH, Pa. -- The University of Delaware volleyball team plays its final non-conference matches of the season this weekend as the Blue Hens participate in the Pitt Panther Invitational.
Delaware will take on Sacred Heart on Friday at 4:30 p.m. at Fitzgerald Field House, before taking on South Florida Saturday at 10 a.m. and the host Panthers at 7 p.m. that night. Following the weekend, the Blue Hens will play 16 Colonial Athletic Association matches to close out their regular season.
Live stats are available for all three matches at the tournament, while video of Delaware's match against Pitt is available for a fee.
The Blue Hens enter the weekend with a 7-5 record, as Delaware took two of three matches at the UD Invitational a week ago before dropping a 3-1 decision to Villanova on Tuesday.
Junior Katie Hillman leads the leads the Blue Hens and ranks ninth in the Colonial Athletic Association with 2.93 kills per set while sophomore Autumn Jenkins is right behind her with a 2.91 kills average, 10th in the league. Sophomore Erin Layne is sixth in the CAA by averaging 6.02 assists per set, while junior Chandler Bryant ranks seventh with 1.07 blocks per set.
Sophomore libero Taylor Hollingsworth paces the UD defensive effort, as she ranks second in the CAA and 31st in Division I by posting 4.95 digs per set.
Sacred Heart is just 4-5 on the season, but the Pioneers won all three of their matches at the Hofstra Invitational last weekend including a five-set victory over the host Pride. Sarah Krufka leads Sacred Heart by averaging 3.58 kills per set, while Marie Zimmerman is handing out 7.47 assists per set.
South Florida also enters the weekend with a 4-5 record, although the Bulls are coming off victories over Troy and Auburn last weekend at the Active Ankle Challenge. Erin Fairs is averaging 3.83 kills per set so far this season, while Jennica Mullins his hitting .322 while leading the Bulls with 38 blocks.
The Panthers are 8-1 on the year, with all eight victories coming in straight sets. Pitt is hosting its second consecutive tournament, after sweeping Duquesne, Norfolk State and Niagara last weekend in the Panther Classic. Pitt currently ranks second in the country with 14.25 assists per set, and the Panthers are third with a 15.00 kills average. Individually, Jenna Potts ranks seventh in Division I by averaging 1.65 blocks per set.
Delaware has taken both previous meetings with Sacred Heart, posting a 3-1 win in 2011 before a 3-0 triumph last season. The Blue Hens are just 3-10 all-time against Pitt, although UD defeated the Panthers in the last two meetings in 2009 and 2010. Saturday's match will be the first ever meeting between Delaware and South Florida.
