NEWARK, DE -- Sophomore Kelly Gibson (right) posted a game-high 12 kills and added five service aces to lead the University of Delaware volleyball team to a 3-0 (30-20, 30-8, 30-8) season opening win over Marist Friday evening at Barbara Viera Court on the first day of the ASCIS/Delaware Invitational.

For the Blue Hens, junior Megan Welch recored a game-high 32 assists to go along with a career-high seven service aces while senior Claire McCormack led the team defensively with eight digs. Junior Colleen Walsh recorded nine kills and freshman Kelly Matthias tallied six kills to go along with two blocks.

Delaware started the game quickly with a 13-0 run as Welch recorded five of her service aces in that run. Marist fought back but eventually fell 30-20 in what ended up being the closest game of the match.

The Blue Hens continued their hot hitting during the second and third games as they outscored Marist 30-8 in both, including a 22-1 run during the third game to blow open the score from 4-3 to 26-4.

The 36 total points given up is a new Delaware record for least points allowed during a 3-game match since the scoring system was changed to 30-point games, breaking the previous record of 37 allowed by the Hens vs Maryland-Eastern Shore on September 4, 2001.

Sally Hanson and Alexandra Schultze each had a team-high three kills for the Red Foxes, while teammate Jaime Kenworthy recorded eight digs.

Delaware hosts Seton Hall Saturday at 1 p.m. and then wilil be back in action later in the day vs Texas-Arlington at 7 p.m. on the tournament's second day.

Texas-Arlington defeated Seton Hall, 3-0, in other action at the tournament today.

-- DDD --

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