University of Delaware Athletics
University of Delaware
6-5
Duquesne
9-4
Blue Hens Defeat Duquesne, Fall To Missouri at Delaware Invitational
9/17/2016 3:31:00 PM | Volleyball
• Duquesne Boxscore
NEWARK, Del. -- The University of Delaware volleyball team defeated Duquense in a five-set thriller before falling to Missouri in straight sets as the Blue Hens split two matches on the second day of the Delaware Invitational.
The Blue Hens, who are now 6-6 on the season, defeated the Dukes 20-25, 25-23, 20-25, 25-16, 15-7 before falling to the Tigers 25-11, 25-21, 25-13.
Maria Bellinger (left) slammed a career-high 15 kills for the second straight match to lead Delaware over Duquesne (9-5), while Alexa Swann added 11 kills and a career-best 10 blocks. Autumn 
Jenkins notched her second consecutive double-double with 10 kills and 14 digs, while Julia Anderson handed out 33 assists and Taylor Hollingsworth (below) made a match-high 23 digs.
After Delaware dropped the opening set, the second stanza featured 14 ties before Daria Robinson ended the set with a kill to pull the Blue Hens even at a set apiece. UD led 12-11 early in the third set, but the Dukes answered with a 12-3 spurt and eventually took a two sets to one lead.
However the Blue Hens did not trail during the final two sets, easily taking the fourth set before jumping out to a 6-3 lead in the fifth. Duquesne won three straight points to pull even, but Delaware countered by taking nine of the final 10 points to put the match away.
Robinson and Swann each had four kills against Missouri (9-3), while Anderson dished out 13 assists and Corey Perkins made a team-leading eight digs.
Emily Thater paced the Tigers with 12 kills, while tournament MVP Melanie Crow added nine kills and Courtney Eckenrode dished out 33 assists.
Missouri raced out to a 17-7 lead in the opening set before eventually taking the frame by 14 points, while the Blue Hens were much more competitive in a second set that featured nine ties.
The final deadlock came at 16-16, before the Tigers captured the next three points and led the rest of the way. Missouri then won the first four points of the third set and was not seriously threatened from there, stretching the lead to as much as 14 points.
The Blue Hens will play their final non-conference match of the season on Tuesday when they host Penn at 7 p.m. at the Bob Carpenter Center.
Match Notes:
• Jenkins recorded her fourth double-double of the year vs. Duquesne
• Jenkins was UD's representative on the All-Tournament Team
• The Blue Hens improved to 4-0 all-time vs. the Dukes
• UD, which faced Ole Miss last season, took on an SEC opponent for the second straight year
FOR MORE INFORMATION: Contact Kevin Tritt at: ktritt@udel.edu (email) / 302-831-8715 (office) / 302-383-5005 (cell)
