University of Delaware Athletics
UD Volleyball Opens 2016 Season This Weekend at Navy Kristen Dickmann Invitational
8/25/2016 3:45:00 PM | Volleyball
Bonnie Kenny, returns four starters from last year's squad that finished 12-17 overall and 4-12 in the Colonial Athletic Association. The Blue Hens, who have qualified for postseason play in eight of the last 10 seasons, were picked sixth in year's league preseason poll announced earlier in the month.
Delaware will be led by middle blocker Alexa Swann, a CAA Preseason honorable mention pick who ranked fourth in the CAA with 1.13 blocks per set and eighth with a .292 hitting percentage last season. Swann, who started all 29 matches and also ranked third on the team with 2.18 kills per set, will serve as a team captain along with senior libero Taylor Hollingsworth.
Senior outside hitter Autumn Jenkins, who also started every match a year ago, is expected to return to the starting lineup after leading UD with 2.58 kills per set and ranking second with a 2.66 digs average. Classmate Julia Anderson started all 29 contests at setter last season, placing fourth in the conference by handing out 8.85 assists per set, while Hollingsworth could return to the libero role she held in 2014 after ranking third on the squad with 2.27 digs per set a year ago.
Coppin State finished with a 9-15 record last season, and placed fourth in the MEAC North Division with a 6-6 league mark. The Eagles, who were again picked fourth in their division this year, will by led by Bailee Jackson, the team's active leader in kills, digs, aces and blocks. Delaware and Coppin State have met just once prior to this weekend, a 3-0 Blue Hen victory in 1994 in Newark.
New Hampshire, the three-time America East defending champions coming off a 21-9 season, was picked second in this year's preseason conference poll. The Wildcats return nine players from the 2015 squad, including America East Co-Player of the Year Demi Muses and Setter of the Year Keelin Severtson. The Blue Hens lead the all-time series with their former conference rival, 12-8, and posted one of their most impressive wins of last season with a 3-0 victory over the Wildcats at the UNH Holly Young Invitational.
Navy returns 11 letterwinners and all but one starter from last year's team that went 9-10 overall and finished sixth in the Patriot League with a 7-9 record. The Mids, picked fifth in the Patriot League Preseason Poll, return starting setter Patricia Mattingly, who handed out 7.64 assists per set. Delaware holds a 17-8 all-time advantage over Navy, although the teams have not faced each other since the 1997 season.
Following the weekend, the Blue Hens are back in action on Sept. 2-3 when UD will face New Orleans, Florida Gulf Coast and VCU at the FGCU Tournament in Fort Myers, Fla.
FOR MORE INFORMATION: Contact Kevin Tritt at: ktritt@udel.edu (email) / 302-831-8715 (office) / 302-383-5005 (cell)
Delaware will be led by middle blocker Alexa Swann, a CAA Preseason honorable mention pick who ranked fourth in the CAA with 1.13 blocks per set and eighth with a .292 hitting percentage last season. Swann, who started all 29 matches and also ranked third on the team with 2.18 kills per set, will serve as a team captain along with senior libero Taylor Hollingsworth.
Senior outside hitter Autumn Jenkins, who also started every match a year ago, is expected to return to the starting lineup after leading UD with 2.58 kills per set and ranking second with a 2.66 digs average. Classmate Julia Anderson started all 29 contests at setter last season, placing fourth in the conference by handing out 8.85 assists per set, while Hollingsworth could return to the libero role she held in 2014 after ranking third on the squad with 2.27 digs per set a year ago.
Coppin State finished with a 9-15 record last season, and placed fourth in the MEAC North Division with a 6-6 league mark. The Eagles, who were again picked fourth in their division this year, will by led by Bailee Jackson, the team's active leader in kills, digs, aces and blocks. Delaware and Coppin State have met just once prior to this weekend, a 3-0 Blue Hen victory in 1994 in Newark.
New Hampshire, the three-time America East defending champions coming off a 21-9 season, was picked second in this year's preseason conference poll. The Wildcats return nine players from the 2015 squad, including America East Co-Player of the Year Demi Muses and Setter of the Year Keelin Severtson. The Blue Hens lead the all-time series with their former conference rival, 12-8, and posted one of their most impressive wins of last season with a 3-0 victory over the Wildcats at the UNH Holly Young Invitational.
Navy returns 11 letterwinners and all but one starter from last year's team that went 9-10 overall and finished sixth in the Patriot League with a 7-9 record. The Mids, picked fifth in the Patriot League Preseason Poll, return starting setter Patricia Mattingly, who handed out 7.64 assists per set. Delaware holds a 17-8 all-time advantage over Navy, although the teams have not faced each other since the 1997 season.
Following the weekend, the Blue Hens are back in action on Sept. 2-3 when UD will face New Orleans, Florida Gulf Coast and VCU at the FGCU Tournament in Fort Myers, Fla.
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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