File Photo Courtesy of Mark Campbell

Boxscore

NEWARK, Del. - Three Blue Hens recorded at least 10 kills while the team hit a combined .382 in the contest to lead the University of Delaware volleyball team to a 3-0 (25-18, 25-11, 25-18) victory over Georgia State during a Colonial Athletic Association match at Viera Court on Saturday night.

Katie Dennehy and Elena Delle Donne each posted a match-high 11 kills to lead Delaware (12-13, 6-3 CAA). Dennehy (at right) also blasted a career-high four aces and added eight digs, while DelleDonne notched three blocks.

Paige Erickson rounded out the potent attack with 10 kills and a team-high .533 hitting percentage against Georgia State (1-21, 1-8). Sophomore setter Jess Chason helped feed the balanced attack, posting 38 assists. Her total marked the highest by a Blue Hen in a three-set match this season.

With the victory, Delaware extended its winning streak to five matches. The Hens have also won four straight CAA bouts for the first time since last year.

In the early part of the first set, the two teams battled back-and-forth, fighting to six ties before the final one at 9-9. After that point, the Hens took three straight rallies, including two on back-to-back kills by Chason and Kim Stewart.

Although the Panthers eventually fought back to within one, Delaware went on a five-point roll, highlighted by three kills from Dennehy, to stretch its advantage to six at 18-12. Later, following another five-point roll, the Hens sealed a 25-18 victory with a clinching kill by Erickson.

The second set was much less in doubt at the beginning. Although Delaware held a slim lead at 6-4, the Hens went on an incredible nine-point roll. During the streak, Delle Donne posted two kills and a pair of blocks, while Dennehy blasted consecutive aces to give the team a 15-4 lead.

Eventually the two standouts came back to help Delaware clinch the 25-11 victory after Delle Donne posted four late kills, while Dennehy fired her third ace of the frame to send the team into the mid-match break with a two-set lead.

Entering the third stanza, Delaware hit a short skid, falling behind 6-3 before calling a timeout. Although consecutive kills by Erickson pulled the Hens within one, Georgia State regained its three-point edge and held it until 13-10.

Following a Panther miscue and a block by Erickson and Stewart, Delaware pulled within one at 13-12. Later, a second Georgia State error knotted the frame at 14 before Erickson blasted a kill and an ace to put Delaware up by two at 17-15.

Delaware never looked back, refusing to relinquish its lead on the way to a 25-18 victory. Fittingly, Dennehy polished off the three-set sweep with three late kills and her fourth ace of the match.

Along with the strong offensive effort, Delaware’s defense was anchored by Stewart, who posted a match-high 10 digs. Steph Barry, the Blue Hens’ All-American libero, also added eight digs against the Panthers to move into fifth place on the program’s career list with 1,560.

Georgia State was led by Liz Schaab, who posted nine kills and four digs. Jocelyn Waldern and Alysa Long also added two aces apiece.

Delaware will return to action next Friday when the team embarks on a two-match road trip beginning with a 7 p.m. contest against Virginia Commonwealth.