University of Delaware Athletics
Saturday, October 23
Newark, Del.
11 AM
University of Delaware
10-10,5-6CAA
3
vs
1
Charleston
13-9,6-5CAA
1
2
3
4
F
Col. of Charleston
15
18
25
20
1
Delaware
25
25
18
25
3
Photo by: Mark Campbell
Volleyball Dominant in Four-Set Victory Over Charleston on Homecoming
10/23/2021 2:28:00 PM | Volleyball
NEWARK, Del. – HOMECOMING VICTORY and .500 Winning Percentage!! The University of Delaware volleyball team celebrated Homecoming Saturday morning with a CAA four-set (25-15, 25-18, 18-25, 25-20) win over visiting College of Charleston (13-9, 6-5 CAA) inside Bob Carpenter Center. The Blue Hens snapped the Cougars three-match winning streak to move to a 10-10 record on the season and 5-6 mark in conference play.
"It was a great win for us today," said head coach Sara Matthews. "I know in our league right now there are a lot of teams vying for the middle of the pack. Charleston has been great all season, so I think us coming out to get that win really helps us. We did some great things defensively. I think our coverage game was so much better than its been which translated to us to getting some offensive kills in those situations. They [Charleston] were a little bit high-error in the beginning and they fixed that in the last two sets and they were really good. I expect them to bounce back tomorrow and be just as good. And we need to make sure that we are coming back ready to respond."
With Charleston holding the 8-7 advantage to start the opening set, Delaware responded by scoring five-straight points to take the 12-8 lead capped by Grace Underwood's kill. The Cougars got in as close as two, 13-11, before Lani Mason's kill ignited a 6-1 Blue Hen run to extend the lead to seven, 19-12. The Blue Hens remained composed after giving up two points to the Cougars and immediately went on another 6-1 spurt, highlighted by Lily Rogers serving four-straight points, to earn the 25-15 set one win.
The Blue Hens took a five-point set two lead after back-to-back kills by Underwood and Lauryn Richardson, 12-7. Charleston trimmed the deficit to one with Gabi Bailey serving three of the Cougars' four-unanswered points, 12-11. Delaware kept Charleston at bay using a 7-3 run to push the lead back up to five, 19-14. Lexi Wierzbicki's gave the Cougars their 18th point before Ezgi Basaranlar dished out two assists to Savannah Seemans and Kirah Johnson for the Blue Hens to claim the 25-18 set two victory.
Down two sets, Charleston was determined to turn the tables around, opening the third set with a 6-3 run for their first lead of the match since the opening stanza. Richardson nailed down a kill to kick start a 5-1 run for Delaware to regain the lead, 8-7. The Cougars went on an 11-3 run to regain the lead for good, 18-11. The Blue Hens made it a five-point game after Lily Rogers' ace, 20-15. Charleston stayed in control five of the set's eight points to take the set three win, 25-18.
Set four opened with a back-and-forth battle, where both teams didn't lead more than two points. Trailing 10-9, Seemans' kill proved to be the fuel needed to set the Blue Hens on fire where the squad scored six-unanswered points, 15-10. Charleston battled to put several rallies together and was able to make it a two-point game, 21-19 after Gabi Bailey's kill. A kill by Seemans started Delaware's final scoring run, 4-1, with Mason's back-to-back kills settling the 25-20 final.
For the fifth-consecutive match, Mason has led the Blue Hens in kills, finishing with a match-high 20 to go along with five digs and an ace. Seemans followed with 14 kills and 11 digs to record her fifth double-double of the season. Directing the Blue Hens' offense was Basaranlar with a match-best 45 assists to go with five kills, five digs and four block assists. Katie Turner anchored Delaware's defense with a match-high 15 digs. Johnson added six kills and five block assists.
Wierzbicki paced Charleston with 10 kills. Emma Appleman and Jasmine Goei chipped in 18 and 14 assists, respectively while Tynley Smeltzer scooped up eight digs.
Matthews added, "I am super excited that it is homecoming this weekend. We have a lot of alums back and we are just really excited see them and cheer our football team this afternoon."
WHAT'S NEXT
The Blue Hens are set to host Charleston again tomorrow in a CAA Dig Pink showdown inside Bob Carpenter Center in Newark at 1 p.m.
BLUE HENS on SOCIAL MEDIA
For the latest on the University of Delaware Volleyball, follow the Blue Hens via social media on Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter. #BlueHens
"It was a great win for us today," said head coach Sara Matthews. "I know in our league right now there are a lot of teams vying for the middle of the pack. Charleston has been great all season, so I think us coming out to get that win really helps us. We did some great things defensively. I think our coverage game was so much better than its been which translated to us to getting some offensive kills in those situations. They [Charleston] were a little bit high-error in the beginning and they fixed that in the last two sets and they were really good. I expect them to bounce back tomorrow and be just as good. And we need to make sure that we are coming back ready to respond."
Delaware remained in control the entire match, including putting together its finest set in the four to finish attacking at a rate of .296 compared to Charleston's .200. The Blue & Gold also led the way in all categories, points (75-55), kills (58-44), aces (9-4), blocks (8-7), assists (50-42) and digs (51-48).We love celebrating Homecoming with a VICTORY 😤 We will be back for more tomorrow afternoon inside the BCC‼️
— Delaware Volleyball (@DelawareVB) October 23, 2021
RECAP | https://t.co/Y0KVPymEdb pic.twitter.com/HgxZ6Qw9MM
With Charleston holding the 8-7 advantage to start the opening set, Delaware responded by scoring five-straight points to take the 12-8 lead capped by Grace Underwood's kill. The Cougars got in as close as two, 13-11, before Lani Mason's kill ignited a 6-1 Blue Hen run to extend the lead to seven, 19-12. The Blue Hens remained composed after giving up two points to the Cougars and immediately went on another 6-1 spurt, highlighted by Lily Rogers serving four-straight points, to earn the 25-15 set one win.
The Blue Hens took a five-point set two lead after back-to-back kills by Underwood and Lauryn Richardson, 12-7. Charleston trimmed the deficit to one with Gabi Bailey serving three of the Cougars' four-unanswered points, 12-11. Delaware kept Charleston at bay using a 7-3 run to push the lead back up to five, 19-14. Lexi Wierzbicki's gave the Cougars their 18th point before Ezgi Basaranlar dished out two assists to Savannah Seemans and Kirah Johnson for the Blue Hens to claim the 25-18 set two victory.
Down two sets, Charleston was determined to turn the tables around, opening the third set with a 6-3 run for their first lead of the match since the opening stanza. Richardson nailed down a kill to kick start a 5-1 run for Delaware to regain the lead, 8-7. The Cougars went on an 11-3 run to regain the lead for good, 18-11. The Blue Hens made it a five-point game after Lily Rogers' ace, 20-15. Charleston stayed in control five of the set's eight points to take the set three win, 25-18.
Set four opened with a back-and-forth battle, where both teams didn't lead more than two points. Trailing 10-9, Seemans' kill proved to be the fuel needed to set the Blue Hens on fire where the squad scored six-unanswered points, 15-10. Charleston battled to put several rallies together and was able to make it a two-point game, 21-19 after Gabi Bailey's kill. A kill by Seemans started Delaware's final scoring run, 4-1, with Mason's back-to-back kills settling the 25-20 final.
For the fifth-consecutive match, Mason has led the Blue Hens in kills, finishing with a match-high 20 to go along with five digs and an ace. Seemans followed with 14 kills and 11 digs to record her fifth double-double of the season. Directing the Blue Hens' offense was Basaranlar with a match-best 45 assists to go with five kills, five digs and four block assists. Katie Turner anchored Delaware's defense with a match-high 15 digs. Johnson added six kills and five block assists.
Wierzbicki paced Charleston with 10 kills. Emma Appleman and Jasmine Goei chipped in 18 and 14 assists, respectively while Tynley Smeltzer scooped up eight digs.
Matthews added, "I am super excited that it is homecoming this weekend. We have a lot of alums back and we are just really excited see them and cheer our football team this afternoon."
Welcome back home 🥰 💙💛 #Homecoming2021 pic.twitter.com/eRmszYdG3G
— Delaware Volleyball (@DelawareVB) October 23, 2021
WHAT'S NEXT
The Blue Hens are set to host Charleston again tomorrow in a CAA Dig Pink showdown inside Bob Carpenter Center in Newark at 1 p.m.
BLUE HENS on SOCIAL MEDIA
For the latest on the University of Delaware Volleyball, follow the Blue Hens via social media on Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter. #BlueHens
Team Stats
CC
UD
Kills
44
58
Errors
19
18
Attempts
125
135
Hitting %
.200
.296
Points
55
75
Assists
42
50
Aces
4
9
Blocks
7
8
Game Leaders
Kills
20
Aces
1
Blocks
0
Kills
14
Aces
2
Blocks
2
Kills
8
Aces
0
Blocks
1
Kills
6
Aces
0
Blocks
5
Players Mentioned
S
/ VolleyballMB
/ VolleyballOH
/ VolleyballOpp/OH
/ Volleyball
S
/ VolleyballOH
/ Volleyball
DS/L
/ Volleyball
MB/Opp
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