File Photo Courtesy of Mark Campbell

NEWARK, Del. – After leading the University of Delaware volleyball team to the Colonial Athletic Association championship last weekend, sophomore setter Jess Chason was honored as one of the nation’s top weekly performers as selected by Collegiate Volleyball Update.

Chason, who is the first Blue Hen to earn the weekly honor, earned the recognition following an incredible performance in the CAA Tournament. While helping lead the team to its second straight conference championship, she posted 147 assists, 44 digs, seven blocks, and two aces. For her efforts in the team’s three matches, she was named the tournament’s Most Outstanding Performer.

Against Towson in the first round, Chason posted 48 assists and set a career-high with 16 digs in the Hens’ 3-1 victory over the Tigers. The following night, she added 40 assists and 12 digs in the semifinal win over Virginia Commonwealth.

During the title bout on Monday, she came through with her best performance of the season while leading the Blue Hens to a thrilling five-set victory over top-seeded Northeastern. Against the Huskies, she set a career-high with 59 assists and matched her best performance with 16 digs. She also added three kills, two blocks, and an ace to round out an outstanding effort.

Her performance helped the Blue Hens hit an impressive .233 during the Tournament, including a .256 mark in the championship match.

After recording a double-double in each of the three contests, Chason improved her league-leading total to 16 this season. She also ranks third in the conference with a 9.18 assists-per-set average and second with 1,148 total assists.

One of only two Blue Hens to start each of the team’s 34 matches this season, Chason ranks third on the squad with 306 digs and fifth with 45 blocks. She is just the second Blue Hen in the past 15 years to post 1,000 assists and 300 digs in a single season, joining former All-Conference setter Megan Welch.

Chason was one of 10 athletes in the country to earn “Top Performer” nods from Collegiate Volleyball Update. She also was one of only three underclassmen to receive the recognition, joining Iowa State’s Ashley Mass and Florida’s Kelly Murphy.

Along with the Top Performers, the CVU website selected Missouri State’s Bethany Fuller as the National Player of the Week.

Chason and the Blue Hens will return to action on Friday at 5 p.m. when the team takes on No. 11 Oregon in the first round of the NCAA Tournament. The contest will be played at American’s Bender Arena in Washington D.C.

AGATE:

National Player of the Week
Bethany Fuller, Missouri State

National Top Performers
Jess Chason, Delaware
Ali Daley, UCLA
Amy DeGroot, San Diego
Rachel Kieckhaefer, Mississippi
Stephanie Lynch, Purdue
Ashley Mass, Iowa State
Kelly Murphy, Florida
Kelsey Murphy, Clemson
Lauren Paolini, Texas
Angie Porche, Valparaiso