Blue Hens Start Fast with 3-1 Victory at JMU

Sunday, February 14

Harrisonburg, VA

1 p.m.

University of Delaware

1-0,0-0CAA

James Madison University

0-1,0-0CAA

Team	1	2	3	4	Final F
Delaware	25	25	23	25	3
James Madison	18	22	25	22	1

Photo from 2019

2/14/2021 3:42:00 PM | Volleyball

Box Score Box Score

Delaware 2-0 in last two trips to Harrisonburg

HARRISONBURG, Va. – It was 450 days since the University of Delaware volleyball team took the floor, and it was a triumphant return as the Blue Hens earned a 3-1 victory (25-18, 25-22, 23-25, 25-22) Sunday afternoon over James Madison behind redshirt junior Michaela Putnicki's 16 kills in her Delaware debut.

"I'm really proud of our team effort today and it was so much fun to be back out on the court competing," said head coach Sara Matthews. "The team did a phenomenal job of tempering their emotions when they needed to and we have a lot to build on going forward."

The Blue Hens featured three players with double-digit kills and got off to a fast start in the opening set. Redshirt sophomore Adelina Rivera had the hot hand early, posting four kills in the first frame and totaled 11 in the match to go along with six rejections.

Putnicki stuffed the stat sheet, going 16-7-36, seven of those kills coming in the final set, with six digs, five blocks and two aces while freshman Savannah Seemans had an impressive collegiate debut with 12 kills.

Sophomore Ezgi Basaranlar had 40 assists and a career-high seven blocks while redshirt junior Katie Turner and freshman Lily Rogers each had 11 digs.

Delaware dominated the first two sets and had a 10-5 lead in the third before the Dukes came back to force a fourth set where the Blue Hens got an ace from Putnicki and a hammer by Rivera to end it.

The Blue Hens are now 2-0 in their last two trips to Harrisonburg. Due to the divisional format in the CAA this spring, the match does not count toward the conference standings and the two teams will square-off again Friday in Newark.

For the latest on the Delaware volleyball program, follow the Blue Hens on Twitter @DelawareVB and Instagram @delawarevolleyball, and like on Facebook at Delaware Volleyball.