Boxscore

FAIRFAX, Va. – Freshman Kim Stewart blasted a career-high 19 kills as the University of Delaware volleyball team extended its winning streak to three matches with a 3-1 (16-25, 25-15, 25-21, 25-16) victory over George Mason during a Colonial Athletic Association contest at the Mason Field House on Saturday night.

Stewart (at right) finished the night hitting a team-best .368, while she also chipped in with eight digs. Her kill total was the second highest by a Hen this season and the most by a freshman since Katie Dennehy capped her 2007 campaign with 22 against St. John’s.

Dennehy also had a strong performance against the Patriots, tallying 16 kills, five blocks, and two aces. Elena Delle Donne starred as well, posting a career-high eight blocks to go along with seven kills.

The victory was the fourth consecutive conference road win for Delaware after the Hens defeated Georgia State, UNC Wilmington, and James Madison earlier this season. It marks the first time since the team joined the CAA that Delaware has won four straight league bouts on the road in a single season.

In the early part of the first set, George Mason (6-14, 2-5) held a small lead before Delle Donne notched a kill to knot the set at six. Although she added another kill just three rallies later, the Patriots pieced together a quick 6-1 run that put the team up, 14-8.

Following a kill by Cindy Murphy that snapped the streak, George Mason took off again, eventually running their lead to 19-11. Despite three straight kills by the Hens, including two by Dennehy, Delaware (10-13, 4-3) could never fight its way back into the set. The Patriots eventually swept the last three points, highlighted by an ace from Noelle Fanella, to grab the 25-16 victory.

During the second set, Stewart helped the Hens get off to a good start, blasting two kills in the first four rallies. Although George Mason pulled ahead by four at 8-4 following back-to-back aces by Chelsea Kropp, Delaware answered in fine fashion. Delle Donne, Dennehy, and Meghan Bonk combined for six kills and two blocks during a mid-set surge that gave the Hens a 14-10 lead.

After stretching its lead to five, Delaware closed the set on a five-point swing. Following a Patriot error, Dennehy fired an ace before Stewart notched two kills and Bonk added one to give the Hens a 25-15 victory.

Following the mid-match break, Delaware left little to be desired in the beginning of the third frame. After losing the first rally, the Hens reeled off seven straight, including three kills by Stewart and a Greta Gibboney ace. Although George Mason chipped its deficit down to two at 9-7, another Stewart kill and two straight blocks by Delle Donne gave the Hens a nice cushion at 12-7.

Still up by five at 22-17, Delaware saw its lead shrink to three for a brief moment before Stewart added a pair of late kills, including the clincher, to give the team a 25-21 win.

Leading two-sets-to-one, the Hens continued their impressive play in the fourth frame. Behind two kills each from Dennehy and Stewart along with an ace from Gibboney, Delaware took a quick 7-1 lead. The squad eventually stretched its advantage to 16-4 after Delle Donne posted four blocks in a nine-point span, including two straight with Dennehy.

Boasting a 12-point lead, Delaware cruised to the 25-16 victory after Dennehy added an ace and two more kills during the final moments of the match to clinch the four-set win.

Sophomore setter Jess Chason had a match-high 44 assists for Delaware, while Steph Barry added 22 digs.

George Mason was led by Sam Simmonds, who posted nine kills, and Jourdan Dozier, who added seven blocks.

Delaware will look to continue its winning ways next Friday when the team hosts UNC Wilmington at 7 p.m.