University of Delaware Athletics
Five NCAA Tournament Opponents Highlight Challenging 2016 Delaware Volleyball Schedule
7/6/2016 11:28:00 AM | Volleyball
Bonnie Kenny, will play 12 home matches in the Bob Carpenter Center and will once again host the six contests of the Delaware Invitational on Sept. 16-17.
The Blue Hens, who return four starters and 10 letterwinners from last year's team that finished 12-17 overall and 4-12 in Colonial Athletic Association competition, will open their season with three matches at the Navy Kristen Dickmann Classic on Aug. 26-27. The tournament is highlighted by a matchup against New Hampshire, which won last year's the America East Championship and participated in the NCAA Tournament.
In the following weekend, Delaware will play three matches at the Florida Gulf Coast Tournament. The Blue Hens will open up against New Orleans on Sept. 2 before playing the host Eagles later in the day, followed by a matchup with VCU the following afternoon.
Delaware will conclude its road tournament schedule with three matches at the NC State Tournament on Sept. 9-10. The invitational will offer one of the Blue Hens' toughest tests of the season with their tournament-opening match with SMU, whose 2015 season was highlighted by an AAC Conference championship and NCAA Tournament berth. SMU also received votes in the final AVCA Coaches Poll to close out the year.
The Blue Hens will then once again host the Delaware Invitational, featuring Duquesne, Missouri, and Miami (Fla.) as the opposition. Missouri in particular will provide Delaware with a tough test, having advanced to the second round of the NCAA Tournament last year. Additionally, the Tigers earned the No. 25 ranking in the final AVCA Coaches Poll and were tied for second in the SEC standings. Miami will also be a formidable opponent, as the Hurricanes participated in the NCAA Tournament last year and ended their regular season tied for fourth in the ACC standings.
Following a midweek home match against Penn on Sept. 20, Delaware will open up Colonial Athletic Association play with a Friday night matchup against Towson on Sept. 23. The match against the Tigers will be the first of four straight conference games to be played at the Bob Carpenter Center, a stretch that also includes UNCW on Sept. 29, Elon on Oct. 1, and the College of Charleston on Oct. 2. Conference play then continues on the road with matches against Hofstra on Oct. 8 and Northeastern on Oct 10.
The Blue Hens then return home with matchups against William & Mary on Oct. 14 and James Madison on Oct. 16 before hitting the road once more for four matches against the College of Charleston (Oct. 21), UNCW (Oct. 23), Towson (Oct. 26) and Elon (Oct. 30).
Delaware wraps up its home schedule against Northeastern on Nov. 4 and Hofstra on Nov. 6, before playing at JMU on Nov. 11 and William & Mary on Nov. 12 in its final regular season road trip of the year.
Following the regular season, the six-team CAA Tournament will be played from Nov. 17-20 on the campus of UNCW.
“Once again we will have a challenging preseason schedule that I am confidant will prepare us for our competitive CAA season,” said Kenny. “We will be challenged by several NCAA teams and will use this as an opportunity to prepare us to reach postseason play."
The Blue Hens will be led by senior middle hitter Alexa Swann, UD's career leader with 1.13 blocks per set who led the squad with 128 blocks and ranked third with 246 kills a year ago. Senior outside hitter Autumn Jenkins also returns after leading Delaware with 292 kills and ranking second with 301 digs during the 2015 campaign. Classmates Julia Anderson, who was fourth in the CAA with 8.85 assists per set, and Taylor Hollingsworth, who ranked third on the team with 256 digs, are also back for the Blue Hens.
FOR MORE INFORMATION: Contact Kevin Tritt at: ktritt@udel.edu (email) / 302-831-8715 (office) / 302-383-5005 (cell)
The Blue Hens, who return four starters and 10 letterwinners from last year's team that finished 12-17 overall and 4-12 in Colonial Athletic Association competition, will open their season with three matches at the Navy Kristen Dickmann Classic on Aug. 26-27. The tournament is highlighted by a matchup against New Hampshire, which won last year's the America East Championship and participated in the NCAA Tournament.
In the following weekend, Delaware will play three matches at the Florida Gulf Coast Tournament. The Blue Hens will open up against New Orleans on Sept. 2 before playing the host Eagles later in the day, followed by a matchup with VCU the following afternoon.
Delaware will conclude its road tournament schedule with three matches at the NC State Tournament on Sept. 9-10. The invitational will offer one of the Blue Hens' toughest tests of the season with their tournament-opening match with SMU, whose 2015 season was highlighted by an AAC Conference championship and NCAA Tournament berth. SMU also received votes in the final AVCA Coaches Poll to close out the year.
The Blue Hens will then once again host the Delaware Invitational, featuring Duquesne, Missouri, and Miami (Fla.) as the opposition. Missouri in particular will provide Delaware with a tough test, having advanced to the second round of the NCAA Tournament last year. Additionally, the Tigers earned the No. 25 ranking in the final AVCA Coaches Poll and were tied for second in the SEC standings. Miami will also be a formidable opponent, as the Hurricanes participated in the NCAA Tournament last year and ended their regular season tied for fourth in the ACC standings.
Following a midweek home match against Penn on Sept. 20, Delaware will open up Colonial Athletic Association play with a Friday night matchup against Towson on Sept. 23. The match against the Tigers will be the first of four straight conference games to be played at the Bob Carpenter Center, a stretch that also includes UNCW on Sept. 29, Elon on Oct. 1, and the College of Charleston on Oct. 2. Conference play then continues on the road with matches against Hofstra on Oct. 8 and Northeastern on Oct 10.
The Blue Hens then return home with matchups against William & Mary on Oct. 14 and James Madison on Oct. 16 before hitting the road once more for four matches against the College of Charleston (Oct. 21), UNCW (Oct. 23), Towson (Oct. 26) and Elon (Oct. 30).
Delaware wraps up its home schedule against Northeastern on Nov. 4 and Hofstra on Nov. 6, before playing at JMU on Nov. 11 and William & Mary on Nov. 12 in its final regular season road trip of the year.
Following the regular season, the six-team CAA Tournament will be played from Nov. 17-20 on the campus of UNCW.
“Once again we will have a challenging preseason schedule that I am confidant will prepare us for our competitive CAA season,” said Kenny. “We will be challenged by several NCAA teams and will use this as an opportunity to prepare us to reach postseason play."
The Blue Hens will be led by senior middle hitter Alexa Swann, UD's career leader with 1.13 blocks per set who led the squad with 128 blocks and ranked third with 246 kills a year ago. Senior outside hitter Autumn Jenkins also returns after leading Delaware with 292 kills and ranking second with 301 digs during the 2015 campaign. Classmates Julia Anderson, who was fourth in the CAA with 8.85 assists per set, and Taylor Hollingsworth, who ranked third on the team with 256 digs, are also back for the Blue Hens.
FOR MORE INFORMATION: Contact Kevin Tritt at: ktritt@udel.edu (email) / 302-831-8715 (office) / 302-383-5005 (cell)
Players Mentioned
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/ VolleyballHighlight: VB CAA Champions - 11/18/23
Sunday, November 19
Highlight: VB vs. Hofstra - 10/22/23
Sunday, October 22
Highlight: VB vs. Hofstra - 10-21-23
Saturday, October 21
Highlight: VB vs. Charleston - 10/1/23
Monday, October 16
