University of Delaware Athletics
Team Stats
UNCW
UD
Kills
38
57
Errors
19
35
Attempts
141
167
Hitting %
.135
.132
Points
51
72
Assists
38
53
Aces
4
9
Blocks
9
6
Game Leaders

Photo by: Gavin Bethell
Volleyball Prevails Over UNCW In Four Sets To Clinch CAA Tourney Berth
10/29/2022 5:41:00 PM | Volleyball
NEWARK, Del. – The University of Delaware volleyball team returned to winning ways Saturday afternoon after capturing the four-set victory (18-25, 25-17, 25-23, 25-22) over UNCW (3-17, 1-10 CAA) inside Bob Carpenter Center. With the win, the Blue Hens (12-9, 8-5 CAA) have snapped their three-match skid, clinched a berth in the upcoming 2022 Colonial Athletic Association (CAA) Volleyball Championship and currently sits in third place behind top-seed Hofstra and second-seeded Towson. This is the third time in four seasons that Delaware has made the tournament and for the first time under the guidance of head coach Kimberly Lambert.
After dropping set one to the Seahawks (25-18), the Blue Hens regrouped and refocused on the task at hand. A UNCW service error knotted the set at six and then Delaware went on a commanding 12-0 scoring run that was headlined by Savannah Seemans serving 11-straight (18-6). The Seahawks responded with a 11-5 run to close the gap to seven points (24-17). Eileen Gex set up Seemans beautifully to put set one in Delaware's pocket (25-17).
UNCW opened set three with a 5-2 lead. Ezgi Basaranlar connected with Kirah Johnson for back-to-back kills to kickstart a 5-1 Blue Hen run (7-6). The battle for the advantage commenced as fans saw six ties and two lead changes (12-12) before Johnson put away Basaranlar's feed that ignited a 10-1 run, this time having Lily Rogers serving six unanswered points, 22-13. The Seahawks refused to go down quietly as they clawed back with a 10-2 spurt, 24-23. It was the Blue Hen setters connecting with one another, Basaranlar to Rogers, to claim the 25-23 set three win.
Set four proved to be a tightly contested showdown in front of the crowd of 280 people. With the scoreboard showing 14-all, a Basaranlar ace helped start a 6-2 run for the Blue Hens to build a four-point cushion, 20-16. UNCW used a 4-1 run to pull within one point, 21-20. Delaware wrapped this one up scoring four of the final six points, which was capped by Johnson's 11th kill, for the Blue Hens to secure the victory.
Lani Mason led the way with 13 kills and 11 digs to post her 11th double-double of the season for Delaware. Seemans followed with 12 kills, 20 digs and three aces to post her fourth double-double of the season. Johnson chipped in with 11 kills and five blocks. Basaranlar took full charge of the Blue Hen offense dishing out 41 assists to go along with five digs while the Blue Hen defense was anchored by Gex with a career-best 26 digs.
Katie Lanz paced UNCW with nine kills and 12 digs. Annabelle Schall and Noe Gaeta added to the mix 17 and 16 assists, respectively, while Ashley Thompson scooped up 16 digs.
WHAT'S NEXT
Delaware will face UNCW again tomorrow (Oct. 30) in a CAA Senior Day battle starting at 2 p.m. inside Bob Carpenter Center. Graduate student Leanna Deegan and senior Gex will be honored for their dedication to Delaware athletics post-match.
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.
That Blue Hen defense though… pic.twitter.com/bbTmfHs0dp
— Delaware Volleyball (@Delaware_VB) October 29, 2022
Delaware finest attacking set came in set three (.317) before finishing the afternoon hitting at a .132 clip compared to UNCW's .135. The Blue Hens led the way in points (72-51), kills (57-38), aces (9-4), assists (53-38) and digs (7-563). The Seahawks held the edge in blocks (9-6).WE'RE IN ‼️ pic.twitter.com/mAd58dlhTw
— Delaware Volleyball (@Delaware_VB) October 29, 2022
After dropping set one to the Seahawks (25-18), the Blue Hens regrouped and refocused on the task at hand. A UNCW service error knotted the set at six and then Delaware went on a commanding 12-0 scoring run that was headlined by Savannah Seemans serving 11-straight (18-6). The Seahawks responded with a 11-5 run to close the gap to seven points (24-17). Eileen Gex set up Seemans beautifully to put set one in Delaware's pocket (25-17).
UNCW opened set three with a 5-2 lead. Ezgi Basaranlar connected with Kirah Johnson for back-to-back kills to kickstart a 5-1 Blue Hen run (7-6). The battle for the advantage commenced as fans saw six ties and two lead changes (12-12) before Johnson put away Basaranlar's feed that ignited a 10-1 run, this time having Lily Rogers serving six unanswered points, 22-13. The Seahawks refused to go down quietly as they clawed back with a 10-2 spurt, 24-23. It was the Blue Hen setters connecting with one another, Basaranlar to Rogers, to claim the 25-23 set three win.
Set four proved to be a tightly contested showdown in front of the crowd of 280 people. With the scoreboard showing 14-all, a Basaranlar ace helped start a 6-2 run for the Blue Hens to build a four-point cushion, 20-16. UNCW used a 4-1 run to pull within one point, 21-20. Delaware wrapped this one up scoring four of the final six points, which was capped by Johnson's 11th kill, for the Blue Hens to secure the victory.
Lani Mason led the way with 13 kills and 11 digs to post her 11th double-double of the season for Delaware. Seemans followed with 12 kills, 20 digs and three aces to post her fourth double-double of the season. Johnson chipped in with 11 kills and five blocks. Basaranlar took full charge of the Blue Hen offense dishing out 41 assists to go along with five digs while the Blue Hen defense was anchored by Gex with a career-best 26 digs.
Katie Lanz paced UNCW with nine kills and 12 digs. Annabelle Schall and Noe Gaeta added to the mix 17 and 16 assists, respectively, while Ashley Thompson scooped up 16 digs.
WHAT'S NEXT
Delaware will face UNCW again tomorrow (Oct. 30) in a CAA Senior Day battle starting at 2 p.m. inside Bob Carpenter Center. Graduate student Leanna Deegan and senior Gex will be honored for their dedication to Delaware athletics post-match.
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.
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