Blue Hens Take Down West Virginia in Five-Set Thriller

Monday, March 29

Newark, Del.

5 p.m.

University of Delaware

4-6

West Virginia University

9-11

Team	1	2	3	4	5	Final F
West Virginia	25	17	26	25	14	2
Delaware	18	25	24	27	16	3

Photo by: Ryan Griffith

Blue Hens Take Down West Virginia in Five-Set Thriller

3/29/2021 9:02:00 PM | Volleyball

Box Score

Richardson with career-highs in blocks and kills

NEWARK, Del. – The University of Delaware volleyball team featured three in double-figures to fight off Big 12-foe West Virginia in five sets (18-25, 25-17, 24-26, 27-25, 16-14) Monday night at the Bob Carpenter Center.

"I'm just so proud of this team for competing all night long and fighting back again and again," said head coach Sara Matthews. "It was so fun to see us put it together tonight and come out with a win over such a strong opponent."

The Blue Hens got a double-double out of freshman Savannah Seemans who led the way with 17 kills to go along with 15 digs and a career-high three aces while sophomore Lauryn Richardson set career highs with 16 kills and six blocks while hitting .424.

Redshirt sophomore Adelina Rivera was a force at the net with 14 kills and eight blocks while redshirt junior Katie Turner had 28 digs to solidify the defensive effort.

Richardson got off to a fast start with three kills on her first three swings to help Delaware get out to a 6-4 lead in the first. West Virginia fought back to 13-10 lead to steal momentum and take the first.

The second set was a back-and-forth affair until the Blue Hens finally took control late, going on a 4-0 run with freshman Lily Rogers at the service line to jump out to a 20-15 advantage late. The Mountaineers put an end to the Delaware run, but Rivera, Richardson and redshirt junior Micahaela Putnicki teamed up for a big block to take back momentum late in the set.

Kills by Richardson, Rivera and Seemans closed out the second to even the match at a set a piece.

The Blue Hens were able to put together a 4-0 run late in the third to make it 18-15 after a Rogers kill, but the Mountaineers outscored Delaware 11-6 down the stretch to take the third.

The fourth set featured 11 ties and it is where Richardson really got going with seven kills in the frame. Delaware was down late, 23-21, before Richardson took over with three kills down the stretch and a final putaway from Rivera forced a decisive fifth set.

Delaware stormed out of the gates in the fifth, jumping out to a 4-0 lead before West Virginia was able to tie it at 6-6. The teams traded blows before a 3-0 run made it 13-10 in favor of the Mountaineers before the Blue Hens scored 3-of-4 on kills by Rivera, Putnicki and Richardson forced a timeout.

A Rivera kill sandwiched by two West Virginia attack errors was the difference to give Delaware its first win over a "Power-5" opponent since taking down ACC-foe Boston College in 2017.

Rogers had eight kills with 30 assists and nine digs, while sophomore Ezgi Basaranlar had 24 assists and eight digs.

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