Photos Courtesy of Mark Campbell

Boxscore

WASHINGTON, D.C. - Despite a commendable effort by the youthful Blue Hens, the University of Delaware volleyball team could not overcome the impressive pedigree of No. 11 Oregon as the Ducks posted a 3-0 (25-16, 25-18, 25-15) victory in the first round of the NCAA Tournament at American’s Bender Arena on Friday night.

Delaware (19-16) received eight kills from freshman Kim Stewart (bottom right) and seven more from sophomore Paige Erickson (top right), but the Blue Hens once again saw their season come to an end at the hands of an experienced team with an international flair.

Similar to last year’s St. John’s squad, the Ducks (24-8) came into the match with a roster highlighted by eight upperclassmen, including four seniors, and representatives from three different continents.

Although flanked by a passionate crowd of Delaware supporters, the Blue Hens were simply undone by the experienced Oregon squad. Unfazed by their environment and cross-country flight, the Ducks proved to be the aggressor despite an early lead by the Hens.

Any rust that may have developed during Delaware’s 11-day layoff was quickly eliminated when Stewart found open space in the Oregon defense on a shot that quickly gave the Hens an early 1-0 advantage. Unfortunately, the lead was short-lived as Oregon answered with an 8-1 run.

Although back-to-back shots by Erickson and Meghan Bonk pulled the Hens within four at 8-4, the team could never get any closer. Despite a pair of kills from both Stewart and Elena Dell eDonne in the middle of the opening set, the Ducks still stretched their lead to eight at 16-8.

Consecutive kills by Dennehy and Erickson followed by an ace each from the two sophomore standouts helped Delaware sustain a five-point deficit until 20-15. From then on, the Ducks closed out the set in impressive fashion. A 5-1 run, only momentarily halted by a block by Bonk and Delle Donne, gave Oregon a 25-16 victory.

In the second frame, Delaware held tough early, trailing by only two at 6-4 behind two early kills from Dennehy and Delle Donne. As they would all day, the Ducks pieced together an imposing run in the middle of the set. Oregon captured six of the next eight rallies, including back-to-back blocks by Gorana Maricic and Neticia Enesi, to grab a 12-6 advantage.

A pair of kills by Stewart eventually helped the Hens pull within five at 13-8, but Oregon continued to answer every Delaware rally. Although three Duck miscues and a block and kill by Erickson allowed the Hens to remain within striking distance, Oregon eventually grabbed an eight-point edge at 21-13.

Two blocks by Michelle LaLonde helped break up the Oregon assault, but the team eventually grabbed set-point at 24-15. Delaware refused to give up, winning three straight rallies including one aided by a beautiful defensive play by Greta Gibboney that kept a late rally alive. Despite the impressive effort, the Hens were unable to complete the comeback as the team fell, 25-18.

Tasting victory, Oregon came out strong in the third frame. The team took the first six rallies before a Dennehy kill snapped the streak. Another shot by Dennehy and a block from Erickson pulled the Hens back within five at 8-3, before three kills by Dennehy, Erickson, and Stewart in the middle of the set brought the team to within four at 10-6.

After the teams traded blows, a block by Erickson and Jess Chason followed by a Duck miscue allowed Delaware to pull within three at 16-13. Although the team held its deficit there for a brief moment, Oregon used a late-set surge to put the match out-of-reach. Two late kills by Erickson were all Delaware could muster as the Ducks pieced together a 9-2 run to seal the three-set sweep at 25-15.

Dennehy finished the match with six kills, improving her season total to 404. She is the first Blue Hen in program history to eclipse the 400-kill plateau during each of her first two seasons.

Delle Donne finished with five kills and a pair of blocks, while Chason led the way with 20 assists. Steph Barry also had a team-high 11 digs.

Oregon was led by Gorana Maricic and Sonja Newcombe, who both posted 10 kills. Neticia Enesi also had a match-high eight blocks, while Maricic and Heather Meyers added four stuffs apiece.

Despite the loss, it seems almost fitting that a year which began with uncertainty in California following a season-ending injury to All-Conference performer Kelly Gibson ends on the opposite coast with a promising outlook for the future. With no graduating seniors on the 2008 edition of the Blue Hens, the team returns a loaded lineup that is primed to continue its battle for sustained success on the national stage.