University of Delaware Athletics
Season Preview: 2022 Volleyball
8/19/2022 11:00:00 AM | Volleyball
We are officially one week away from hearing “Point, Set, Match for the Blue Hens” as the University of Delaware volleyball team will open the 2022 campaign competing at Temple Tournament on Friday, August 26 starting with the hosts, Owls, to kick off the 50th season of play.
Always grinding ??#BlueHens?? pic.twitter.com/vwb1Qt8lcK
— Delaware Volleyball (@DelawareVB) August 15, 2022
Delaware will enter the season with 13 returning members who led the Blue Hens to a Colonial Athletic Association (CAA) semifinal-round appearance a year ago. Kimberly Lambert, who will be making her debut on the sidelines in her new role of head coach, welcomes a recruiting class of five to form a roster of 18 student-athletes eager to lead the program to its fifth CAA title. Joining her on the sidelines in his first season serving as associate head coach is Shawn McLaughin and assistant coach Austin D’Amore enters his third season.
We are fortunate to have an incredible core group returning this fall that have shown amazing leadership and maturity. They have pushed themselves to improve every day in preseason, allowing our younger players to develop in order to provide depth. We have some new additions that are already making our gym better and we're extremely proud of the progress everyone has made. We are excited for the season, especially with the chance of competing in a challenging non-conference schedule combined with an expanded and new look of the CAA. August 26th can't get here fast enough!Kimberly Lambert, Head Volleyball Coach
SEASON OUTLOOK
- The Blue Hens return five starters, including first team All-CAA selection Lani Mason and second team All-CAA honorees Ezgi Basaranlar and Lauryn Richardson.
- Looking to make their debut for the first time sporting the Blue & Gold are Leanna Deegan (Easton, Pa.), Madelyn Grunza (Southlake, Texas), Asia Murray (Chicago, Ill.), Cadence Nguyen (Virginia Beach, Va.) and Dylan Norris (Toano, Va.)
- Lambert's peers selected the Blue Hens to finish fourth in the conference with 68 points, as part of the 2022 CAA Preseason Coaches' Poll.
- Mason led the way last season for the Blue Hens after putting together a memorable junior season. She finished the season with 344 kills (3.37 k/per set) and 404.5 points (3.97 pts/per set) while ranking second among the team with 245 digs (2.40 digs/per set) in 102 sets played. The Chester, Va. native posted eight double-doubles (kills/digs) and registered 10 or more kills in 16 matches, including putting together three 20-plus kill performances, highlighted by a season-best 22 kills against Temple.
- Basaranlar was charged with directing the Blue Hen offense last season and would look to continue the role in 2022. The Istanbul, Turkey native led the team with 774 assists (8.60 a/per set) and .313 attacking percentage in 90 sets played. Basaranlar recorded three double-doubles (assists/digs) and dished out double-digit assists in 26 of her 27 appearances, including a season-high 52 assists against James Madison. Basaranlar added her name to the record books as she became the ninth player in program history to surpass the 2,000-career assists mark to enter her senior year with 2,060-career assists.
- Richardson ranked third among her teammates with 214 kills (2.10 k/per set), 240 points (2.35 pts/per set) and 49 blocks (.48 blk/per set) in 102 sets played. Richardson had 10 or more kills in six matches, including nailing down a season-best 14 kills in back-to-back matches at Towson, and had 3+ blocks in seven matches, highlighted by a season-high six block performance against UMES.
- Outside hitter Savannah Seemans put together quite a showing her sophomore campaign as she led the team with 45 services aces (.44 sa/per set) while ranking second with 273 kills (2.68 k/per set) and third with 221 digs (2.17 dig/p set). Seemans had six double-doubles (kills/digs), including posting a career-best 20 kills with 13 digs against Charleston. She also served a career-best seven aces against UMES which helped her later in the season tie for third among the NCAA leaders in total aces and fifth in aces per set through games played Sept. 13.
- Standing tall for the Blue Hens was middle blocker Kirah Johnson, where she finished with 94 blocks (.93 blk/per set) last season.
PRESEAON HONORS
Mason earned a spot on the Preseason All-CAA Team while Basaranlar earned an honorable mention nod.
We got a pair of #BlueHens on the Preseason All-@CAASports Team!!
— Delaware Volleyball (@DelawareVB) August 17, 2022
Congrats @laniimason and @ezgibasaranlarr ??????
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SCHEDULE
Delaware will kick off the 2022 regular season schedule on next Friday, Aug. 26 in Philadelphia, Pa. competing in Temple Tournament by taking on the hosts Temple and then face Seton Hall on Saturday, Aug. 27 to close out the two-day tournament.
The Blue Hens will play eight of its 25-match schedule in the friendly confines of the Bob Carpenter Center. UD will begin their hosting duties on Wednesday, Aug. 31 against George Washington. The final tune up prior to conference play will take place in Rock Hill, S.C., as Delaware will compete at the Winthrop Tournament and face Wyoming, the hosts Winthrop and Davidson Sept. 9-10.
Delaware will open league play at home on Saturday, Sept. 17 when they host Northeastern for a pair of weekend matches. The Blue & Gold have Oct 8-9 circled as they welcome the defending CAA champions Towson. The Blue Hens will look to contend for the CAA Championship on Nov. 17-19 with Towson hosting the tournament.
August 26th can't get here fast enough!!!
— Delaware Volleyball (@DelawareVB) August 3, 2022
Check out the full 2022 schedule on tap for the #BlueHens and be sure to purchase your tickets N.O.W.
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