Boxscore

NEWARK, Del. - Behind a well-balanced offensive attack and a great defensive performance by Steph Barry, the University of Delaware volleyball team stormed past Northeastern, 3-0 (27-25, 25-22, 25-19), in a Colonial Athletic Association match-up on Friday night at Viera Court.

In front of a packed house with fans sporting white in honor of the team's Newark Nor'easter campaign, the Blue Hens played inspired ball and eventually sent the crowd home happy with an incredible performance against the league-leading Huskies.

Barry (at right) posted a match-high 21 digs to lead the defensive effort, while Katie Dennehy recorded a team-high 11 kills. Paige Erickson and Kim Stewart were close behind, each posting 10 in the winning effort.

With the victory, Delaware (14-14, 8-4) has evened-up its record for the first time this season. The Hens have now gone 11-6 since starting the season slow while battling injuries and completing a tough tournament schedule.

In the first set, the Huskies (15-10, 9-2) showed their impressive pedigree early, reeling off four straight points capped by an ace from Brianna Seitz. After three Northeastern errors and a kill by Erickson helped Delaware dig its way out of the early hole, the Hens eventually took a 10-8 lead after two kills and an ace by Dennehy.

Still up by two, Delaware saw its lead slowly slip away as Northeastern fought back to retake a one-point advantage at 15-14. After battling to three ties immediately after that point, a Huskie miscue followed by a blast from Erickson forced Northeastern to call a timeout, trailing by two at 20-18.

The back-and-forth battle continued, though, as the Huskies knotted the set at 20 and briefly took a lead at 22-21. Despite the late deficit, Delaware capitalized on kills by Dennehy and Erickson to earn set-point at 24-23.

Although the Huskies held off the Hens twice, Delaware’s consistent attack was too much to stop as a block by Stewart and Delle Donne iced the first-set win at 27-25.

The close contest carried over into the second set as the teams traded early blows, with Delaware capitalizing on three blocks by DelleDonne and Northeastern taking advantage of a block and kill from Sarah Stein. Eventually, the squads found themselves dead-locked at 14-14 before four kills by Stewart helped the Hens take a 20-17 advantage.

Five points away from a two-set lead, Delaware used a pair of late kills by DelleDonne and one each from Dennehy and Jess Chason to bury the Huskies, 25-22.
Following the mid-match break, the Hens came out quick in the third frame. Behind back-to-back kills by Dennehy and DelleDonne as well as a pair of aces from Chason and Dennehy, Delaware grabbed an 8-3 advantage before a Northeastern timeout.

Despite a short Huskie run that brought the visitors back within three, the Blue Hens used a flurry of fine plays to help put the set out-of-reach. A kill by Meghan Bonk started the rally before two kills from Stewart and a blistering ace by the freshman standout gave Delaware a 14-7 lead.

Although Northeastern chiseled its deficit down to four at 14-10, the late resurgence did little to knock the Hens off stride. Delaware won the next three rallies, including a kill and block by Delle Donne, to put the hosts back up by seven.

Another late Huskie streak helped Northeastern pull within three at 22-19, but Delaware had an answer. The Hens won the last three rallies, including a block by Erickson and Chason followed by an ace from Stewart, to clinch the sweep with a 25-19 victory.

During the match, the Blue Hens buried the Huskies under a bevy of blocks, led by six from Delle Donne. Stewart also chipped in with four, while Chason assisted on two stops.

Chason, the team’s standout setter, also posted 34 assists and helped the Hens finish with a combined .225 hitting percentage.

Northeastern (15-10, 9-2) was led by Lauren DeTurk, who had 13 kills and 10 digs. Britney Brown also had 15 assists, six kills, and four blocks for the Huskies.

The Blue Hens will be back in action tomorrow when the team hosts Hofstra at 7 p.m. The match is the last home conference contest of the season for Delaware.