Boxscore

FULLERTON, Calif. - Despite an early lead, the University of Delaware volleyball team could not capitalize on a strong effort in its 2008 season opener as the Blue Hens fell to Cal State Fullerton, 3-2 (25-21, 21-25, 25-16, 17-25, 16-18) in an evenly-matched contest at the Titan Gym on Friday night.

The Blue Hens (0-1) also could not capitalize on a strong performance by Kelly Gibson (at right). The senior co-captain finished the contest with a match-high 23 kills and 14 digs.

Paige Erickson and Steph Barry also opened the season on high-notes. Erickson led the team with four blocks and three aces, while Barry notched a match-high 28 digs.

In the fifth and final set, Fullerton (1-0) made an early statement, grabbing the first four points to hold a commanding lead in the race to 15. Following a Delaware timeout, the Blue Hens appeared able to regroup and orchestrated a 7-2 run that pulled the team within one at 7-6.

Seeing the game unravel, the Titans called a timeout to break the Hens’ momentum. It was ineffective as Delaware tacked on three of the next four points to take their first lead since the third set at 9-8.

The Hens eventually extended their advantage to two before Fullerton called another timeout, trailing 12-10. This time it proved more effective as the Titans scored three of the next four to knot the game at 13 apiece.

After Fullerton retook the lead at 14-13, Delaware staved off the Titans’ first match point when freshman Cindy Murphy hit the left corner with a perfectly- placed kill to retie the game at 14. Another kill by Katie Dennehy held off the Titans at 15-15 and a Fullerton attack error retied the game at 16.

The Blue Hens could not hold off the Fullerton attack for a fourth time, however, as the Titans notched back-to-back kills to clinch the set and match with an 18-16 victory .

Despite the defeat, Delaware held strong against tough competition. Fullerton hails from the powerful Big West Conference, which is rated as the sixth best in the country by the national Pablo rankings. The league has produced six national championship teams and sent two squads to last year's NCAA Tournament.

The first set was a back-and-forth battle before junior co-captain Michelle LaLonde's strong defense unhinged the Fullerton attack. Following one rally that saw her stuff two attack attempts and another which resulted in her first block of the season, the Titans were forced to call a timeout trailing by three at 13-10.

The team continued to push forward as Delaware used two kills by Gibson and another rally to extend their lead to 20-15. Fullerton crept back into the game, helped by back-to back Blue Hen errors on a serve and a set.

The team quickly regrouped in the huddle during a timeout as the Hens came back with two straight points before easing into a 25-20 victory following a blast off the right-hand of Erickson that could not be handled by the Fullerton defense.

After dropping the first game, the Titans came out recharged in the second set, grabbing an early 5-1 lead. Unfazed by Fullerton's new-found life, Delaware took the next three points, buoyed by a deceptive serve off the hand of Jess Chason that glanced off the net and fell untouched into the middle of the six Titan defenders.

Fullerton pulled ahead by two at 11-9, but an ace from Erickson and another kill by Gibson quickly tied up the set. The Blue Hens could not quite muster enough to grab the lead, however, as the Titans eventually retook their advantage and held a four-point lead at 16-12.

Delaware fought back to knot the game at 20 following a short rally highlighted by another LaLonde block and an impressive ace from Gibson that handcuffed a Titan defender. The team could not capitalize on its strong showing in the waning moments of the set, though, as Fullerton notched the next three points and posted a 25-21 victory.

Following the intermission, Delaware came out reinvigorated. Although the two teams battled to a 10-10 tie, the Blue Hens went on an impressive roll to cap off the set.

Over the last 21 points, the Hens took 15 to pull off an impressive 25-16 victory. The rally was highlighted by three kills from Gibson and two by Katie Dennehy.

Despite the overwhelming win, the momentum slowly began to shift to the Fullerton side. The Titans reeled off nine of the first 12 points to grab a 9-3 advantage. Delaware responded with a run of its own, winning nine of the next 13 rallies to pull within one at 13-12. Once again, Gibson stole the show, firing three kills into the Titan defense during that stretch.

Unfortunately, the one-point deficit was as close as the Hens could come. Fullerton went back on the offensive, ending the frame on a 12-5 run to pull out the 25-17 victory, which set the match in the fateful fifth game.

Jess Chason, seeing her first full-time action as the team’s setter, notched a double-double with 46 assists and 10 digs. Meghan Bonk, making her first collegiate appearance, also chipped in with six kills and another half-dozen digs.

Delaware will retake the court tomorrow for the final two matches of the Tournament. The Hens will take on No. 28 ranked Pepperdine at 2 p.m. Eastern Time before facing UNC Greensboro at 7:30 p.m.