File Photo Courtesy of Mark Campbell

Boxscore

HARRISONBURG, Va. - Highlighted by an incredible effort from Paige Erickson, the University of Delaware volleyball team snapped its three-match conference skid by downing James Madison, 3-1 (21-25, 25-21, 25-23, 25-23), during a Colonial Athletic Association bout at the Sinclair Gymnasium on Friday night.

Erickson (at right) finished the night with a career-high 18 kills and a sparkling .467 hitting percentage. Through the first two sets of the match, she was hitting an unbelievable .706 after firing 13 kills on only 17 attempts. By the end of the contest, she also posted a team-high five blocks.

Katie Dennehy had a great performance as well, notching 14 kills and nine digs. She also led the way with two aces against the Dukes (9-13, 3-3 CAA).

Erickson was strong from the start, posting a kill and block in the early going to help Delaware (9-13, 3-3) take an early 4-1 lead in the first set. The three-point edge was short-lived, however, as James Madison stormed back, winning four straight rallies to take its first lead at 5-4.

The Blue Hens responded as the team received two kills each from Erickson, Dennehy, and Elena Delle Donne in the middle of the frame to retake its lead at 13-10. Despite the deficit, James Madison fought back, and after back-to-back kills from Lindsay Callahan, Delaware called a timeout trailing by two at 18-16.

Although two late kills by Erickson helped the Hens stay competitive, the Dukes eventually took three of the last four rallies to clinch the 25-21 victory.

Heading into the second frame trailing by a set, Delaware once again leaned on Erickson as the sophomore standout blasted three kills during the first nine rallies. Despite her efforts, James Madison had an answer each time, never allowing the Blue Hens to grab a lead in the early going.

Trailing by four at 10-6, Delaware called a timeout. Following a quick kill by Kim Stewart, James Madison rolled off three straight points, highlighted by a block by Lauren Miles and Michelle Johnson, to increase their lead to six at 13-7.

With their backs against the wall, the Hens came out fighting, ripping off three straight points, including an ace by Steph Barry, to cut their deficit in half. Later a 4-1 run pulled Delaware within one at 15-14. Although the Dukes retook a three-point advantage, back-to-back blocks by Cindy Murphy helped the Hens pull back within one before two straight kills from Erickson knotted the set at 21.

Unwilling to let their comeback go to waste, the Hens swept the last four points of the frame, aided by another kill from Erickson as well as a kill and ace by Jess Chason, to take the set, 25-21.

With the match tied at one game apiece, James Madison was quick to respond to its second-set loss, utilizing a five-point run to grab a 9-3 lead in the third frame. The Hens answered in-turn, matching the Dukes with their own five-point roll, led by a block and kill from Dennehy, to pull within one at 9-8.

Eventually, following three kills by Erickson and an ace from Stewart, Delaware took a two-point lead at 15-13. Although James Madison came back to take a brief lead, Dennehy finished strong, firing two kills and an ace, before a blast by Stewart clinched the victory at 25-23.

Although the Hens found themselves trailing by two at 7-5 early in the fourth set, they quickly reeled off four straight points, including a kill by Stewart and an ace from Dennehy, to turn the tables and grab a 9-7 lead. Following a block by Delle Donne and Stewart along with a kill by Murphy, James Madison tried to break Delaware’s momentum with a timeout.

The stoppage did little to quell the Hens’ potent attack as the visitors eventually extended their lead to five at 14-9. Still leading by the same margin following two kills by Dennehy and a third from DelleDonne, Delaware saw its advantage quickly evaporate as James Madison won six of the next seven rallies to knot the set at 20.

Despite the late rally, Delaware held tough. Following a Blue Hen timeout, Stewart notched a kill before the team took advantage of three straight James Madison errors to earn match-point at 24-20. After a short Duke rally, Stewart blasted the clincher at 25-23.

Stewart eventually finished with 10 kills and nine digs, while Delle Donne and Murphy both chipped in with four blocks apiece. Chason also had a strong day, posting a double-double with 46 assists and 11 digs.

James Madison was led by Lindsay Callahan, who recorded 15 kills and 10 digs. Sofia Lindroth also had a match-high 17 digs, while Michelle Johnson added eight kills and six blocks.

Delaware will look to continue its strong play tomorrow at 7 p.m. when the team takes on George Mason in Fairfax.