University of Delaware Athletics
UD Volleyball Travels North To Compete in UNH Holly Young Invitational
9/10/2015 3:01:00 PM | Volleyball
• Live Video
• Live Stats
DURHAM, N.H. -- The University of Delaware volleyball team will continue its challenging non-conference schedule this weekend when the Blue Hens play three matches at the Holly Young Invitational hosted by New Hampshire.
UD will face the host Wildcats at 7 p.m. Friday in Lundholm Gym, before taking on Boston College at 10 a.m. and Michigan State at 4:30 p.m. on Saturday. Webstreams and live stats will be available for every match of the tournament.
The Blue Hens are 2-4 on the season, having captured one match at the UCF Invitational and NC State Hilton Garden Inn Cary Classic. Senior outside hitter Katie Hillman is leading Delaware with 3.12 kills per set and a .291 hitting percentage, while Autumn Jenkins ranks second on the squad with a 3.04 kills average. Alexa Swann is third with 1.88 kills to go with a team-leading 25 blocks, while Julia Anderson ranks second in the CAA with 9.42 assists per set. Libero Ariel Shonk leads the UD defensive effort with a conference-best 5.48 digs per set.
New Hampshire, which was picked to win the America East, opened its season with two losses, but has won six straight including a victory over ACC opponent Wake Forest. The Wildcats also posted a five-set victory over Northeastern, and last weekend won all three matches at the Fairfield Invitational. Tori Forrest is averaging 2.94 kills per set for UNH, while Madison Lightfoot leads the way with a 3.90 digs average. Forrest was selected the America East Player of the Week on Monday, while Lightfoot picked up conference defensive specialist honors.
Boston College opened its season with four consecutive victories, before falling to Fairfield and Marshall at the Fairfield Invitational. Brittany Pavich currently ranks eighth in Division I with a .477 hitting percentage this year, while Katty Workman is 15th in the nation with a 4.67 kills average. Mallori Moffat hands out 9.00 assists per set for the Eagles, while Madisen Lydon paces the defensive effort with 3.76 digs per set.
Michigan State, which is receiving votes in this week's AVCA Top 25 Coaches Poll, is 3-3 on the year after taking one of three matches at last week's Spartan Invitational. MSU leads the Big Ten in kills and assists per set, while four Spartan players are averaging at least 2.61 kills. Allyssah Fitterer leads the squad with a 3.35 kills average and a .319 hitting percentage, while Rachel Minarick is dishing out 10.68 assists per set.
The Blue Hens and Wildcats are former America East rivals, with Delaware holding an 11-8 edge in the all-time series. UD is 0-2 against Michigan State and 2-0 vs. Boston College in school history. The Eagles competed in the 2007 Delaware Invitational, while the Spartans and Wildcats each participated in the 2008 Delaware Invitational. UD has not faced any of the three schools since those tournaments.
Following this weekend's action, the Blue Hens will travel to Penn on Tuesday for a 7 p.m. match with the Quakers. UD will finally play its home opener next Friday vs. Morgan State at 1 p.m. in the Bob Carpenter Center during its first match of the Delaware Invitational.
FOR MORE INFORMATION: Contact Kevin Tritt at: ktritt@udel.edu (email) / 302-831-8715 (office) / 302-383-5005 (cell)
