University of Delaware Athletics
Blue Hens Open Home Schedule This Weekend By Hosting UD Invitational
9/17/2015 1:57:00 PM | Volleyball
NEWARK, Del. -- After kicking off the 2015 season with 10 consecutive matches away from Newark, the University of Delaware volleyball team finally opens its home schedule this weekend when the Blue Hens host the 39th Annual University of Delaware Invitational.
The tournament begins on Friday at 11 a.m. at the Bob Carpenter Center when Sacred Heart faces Loyola (Md.), followed by the Blue Hens' home opener against Morgan State at 1 p.m. Sacred Heart will then take on Morgan State at 4:30 p.m., while Delaware battles Loyola (Md.) at 7 p.m. to wrap up the day.
The invitational continues on Saturday as Loyola (Md.) will face Morgan State at 10 a.m. before the Blue Hens take on Sacred Heart at 12 noon.
Delaware is 5-5 on the season and has won three of its last four matches, including Tuesday's four-set victory at Penn. Autumn Jenkins paces the Blue Hens with 2.75 kills per set, while Katie Hillman is right behind her with a 2.60 kills average. Julia Anderson currently ranks third in the conference by averaging 9.33 assists per set, while Ariel Shonk leads the league with 5.30 digs per set.
Loyola (Md.) enters the weekend with a 5-6 record, although the Greyhounds have won four of their last five contests. Stacey Kazalas is averaging a team-best 3.02 kills per set to pace the squad, while Molly Cichosz contributes 2.93 kills per set.
Morgan State carries a 2-9 mark into the invitational, with victories over Chicago State and Fordham. Arianna Hayden has slammed 96 kills to lead the Bears, while Carmen Fernandez is averaging 7.36 assists per set and Samantha Prescott is adding 3.59 digs per set.
Sacred Heart is 3-5 on the young season, including victories over Providence, Hartford and Canisius. Sarah Krufka,the current NEC Player of the Week, leads the Pioneers with a 3.76 kills average, while Tori Kemper adds 3.00 kills per set. Kiki Robinson is handing out 9.45 assists per set, while Ana Gonzalez leads the squad with 83 digs.
Delaware is a perfect 6-0 all-time against Morgan State, while the Blue Hens have won 34 of the 37 meetings with the Greyhounds including five straight. UD has taken two of three matchups with Sacred Heart, with all three contests occurring since the 2011 season.
Individual match tickets are available for $7, while youth and senior tickets can be purchased for $5. The entire Blue Hen team will be signing autographs following the matches against Loyola (Md.) and Sacred Heart.
FOR MORE INFORMATION: Contact Kevin Tritt at: ktritt@udel.edu (email) / 302-831-8715 (office) / 302-383-5005 (cell)
