University of Delaware Athletics
Volleyball Set for 2021 Campaign
8/25/2021 2:57:00 PM | Volleyball
NEWARK, Del. – The 2021 Delaware volleyball team's season is set to get underway on Friday in Philadelphia when the Blue Hens take on Rider and Temple for a pair of matches before battling Villanova on the road the following day.
Fifth-year head coach Sara Matthews will lead a squad that returns 12 of its 14 players from last year.  Â
"We have a really strong core group of players returning, including some people returning from injuries," Matthews said. "Even though we are young, a lot of younger players saw significant playing time so we are excited for the season."
Among those returning are a pair of setters in junior Ezgi Basaranlar and sophomore Lily Rogers. Basaranlar is coming off a season in which she paced the Blue Hens in assists with 194. In her second season, she logged a 6.06 assists per set average, which was good for sixth in the conference. Rogers, who was a Second Team All-CAA selection this spring, finished second on the team in assists (192) and fourth in digs (72).
"Both of our setters proved last year what they are capable of," Matthews mentioned. "We're in a really good situation in the setter position. We feel great about what both of them can do. They're totally different players and have different skillsets. Ezgi is a really good pure setter while Lily provides a lot defensively and adds depth, being able to attack and serve."
On the outside, sophomore Savannah Seemans, who received Preseason All-CAA Team praise last week, will look to build on her rookie campaign in which she led the team with 100 kills and finished second with 121 digs. Junior Lauryn Richardson also played a large role in Delaware's scoring efforts, ending her sophomore season ranked second on the team with 83 kills in 10 matches. The Houston native additionally finished second with 26 total blocks.
"Having two really solid returners on the outside is huge for us," Matthews said. "We pretty much have everyone back. Lauryn is returning on the right and she was really good at the end of last season, so we are looking for her to carry that momentum into this year. Savannah had a good amount of experience last year playing all the time and we hope that she will build on that heading into her sophomore season."
Junior Lani Mason will also be back in the mix as an outside hitter after missing all of the spring season due to injury.
"Lani had a really solid freshman year in 2019 before missing the spring due to an injury," Matthews stated. "Now we have her back, and she added a lot of experience and strength. She's been really good for us."
In the middle, the Blue Hens welcome back senior Grace Underwood, who led the team in blocks with 29 in the spring, while also adding Virginia Tech transfer Kirah Johnson.
"Having Grace back in the middle and adding Kirah is huge for us," Matthews said. "We now have really good depth in that position."
Redshirt senior Katie Turner returns and will look to follow up a stellar junior campaign in which she led the Blue Hens with 147 digs and finished sixth in the CAA in digs per set (3.97).
 "Katie is having a really great preseason," Matthews stated. "She was great for us passing wise and put up solid numbers all year."
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Fifth-year head coach Sara Matthews will lead a squad that returns 12 of its 14 players from last year.  Â
"We have a really strong core group of players returning, including some people returning from injuries," Matthews said. "Even though we are young, a lot of younger players saw significant playing time so we are excited for the season."
Among those returning are a pair of setters in junior Ezgi Basaranlar and sophomore Lily Rogers. Basaranlar is coming off a season in which she paced the Blue Hens in assists with 194. In her second season, she logged a 6.06 assists per set average, which was good for sixth in the conference. Rogers, who was a Second Team All-CAA selection this spring, finished second on the team in assists (192) and fourth in digs (72).
"Both of our setters proved last year what they are capable of," Matthews mentioned. "We're in a really good situation in the setter position. We feel great about what both of them can do. They're totally different players and have different skillsets. Ezgi is a really good pure setter while Lily provides a lot defensively and adds depth, being able to attack and serve."
On the outside, sophomore Savannah Seemans, who received Preseason All-CAA Team praise last week, will look to build on her rookie campaign in which she led the team with 100 kills and finished second with 121 digs. Junior Lauryn Richardson also played a large role in Delaware's scoring efforts, ending her sophomore season ranked second on the team with 83 kills in 10 matches. The Houston native additionally finished second with 26 total blocks.
"Having two really solid returners on the outside is huge for us," Matthews said. "We pretty much have everyone back. Lauryn is returning on the right and she was really good at the end of last season, so we are looking for her to carry that momentum into this year. Savannah had a good amount of experience last year playing all the time and we hope that she will build on that heading into her sophomore season."
Junior Lani Mason will also be back in the mix as an outside hitter after missing all of the spring season due to injury.
"Lani had a really solid freshman year in 2019 before missing the spring due to an injury," Matthews stated. "Now we have her back, and she added a lot of experience and strength. She's been really good for us."
In the middle, the Blue Hens welcome back senior Grace Underwood, who led the team in blocks with 29 in the spring, while also adding Virginia Tech transfer Kirah Johnson.
"Having Grace back in the middle and adding Kirah is huge for us," Matthews said. "We now have really good depth in that position."
Redshirt senior Katie Turner returns and will look to follow up a stellar junior campaign in which she led the Blue Hens with 147 digs and finished sixth in the CAA in digs per set (3.97).
 "Katie is having a really great preseason," Matthews stated. "She was great for us passing wise and put up solid numbers all year."
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Players Mentioned
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