Photo Courtesy of Mark Campbell

Boxscore

NEWARK, Del. - Kim Stewart and Elena Delle Donne helped lead the University of Delaware volleyball team to a convincing 3-0 (25-12, 25-19, 25-19) victory over UNC Wilmington during a Colonial Athletic Association bout at Viera Court on Friday night.

Stewart led the team with 11 kills and added seven digs, while Delle Donne (at right) posted 10 kills and a match-high four blocks. The two phenomenal freshmen also committed just three errors on 48 attack attempts for a stellar .313 combined hitting percentage.

With the victory, the Blue Hens (11-13, 5-3 CAA) increased their season-best winning streak to four matches, including three straight in conference play.

Delaware made quick work of UNCW (6-16, 0-8) in the early going, winning nine of the first 13 rallies before a Seahawk timeout. The stoppage did little to break the Hens’ momentum as they eventually stretched their advantage to 12-5 following a kill by DelleDonne and an ace from Katie Dennehy.

Still ahead by seven at 17-10, Stewart fired back-to-back kills, including a blistering shot that ricocheted off a defender and into the crowd. With a comfortable lead, the Hens cruised to a 25-12 victory after Dennehy and Delle Donne both recorded a late kill before the two teamed up for the clinching block.

Riding high, the Hens were quick out-of-the-gate in the second set as well, grabbing a 10-3 lead that included three kills by Stewart and a pair of blocks by Erickson. Although the Seahawks answered with a three-point run, Stewart and Delle Donne quickly gave the team another burst of energy.

Leading by four at 10-6, the two standouts combined for five kills over the next nine rallies to help Delaware secure a 16-9 advantage. Their seven-point edge held up, lasting until 19-12 before the Seahawks orchestrated a short rally to pull within three.

Despite the late UNCW resurgence, Delaware answered as Delle Donne posted a block and kill on back-to-back plays before Erickson and Stewart blasted two straight kills to cap the frame at 25-19.

Unwilling to rest with a two-set lead, the Hens continued their strong play in the third frame. Capitalizing on two kills and a block from Erickson as well as an ace from Jess Chason, the team pulled out to an early 14-8 lead.

Delle Donne’s second solo block of the contest kept Delaware up by six at 16-10. Although the Hens stretched their lead to seven, the Seahawks rode a strong effort by Kim Friedl to pull back within four at 21-17.

Once again, Delaware refused to let up as Dennehy blasted a kill that sent the Seahawks reeling into a timeout. Five rallies later, following another kill by Delle Donne and an ace from Steph Barry, the Blue Hens grabbed the three-set sweep with a 25-19 victory in the final frame.

Barry finished the contest with a team-high 19 digs, while Chason posted a double-double with 32 assists and 10 digs. Erickson and Dennehy also chipped in with three blocks apiece.

UNC Wilmington was led by Megan Nash, who had eight kills and three blocks. Jacqueline Crane also posted a team-best 20 assists, while Ashlyn Morris had 19 digs.

Delaware will return to action tomorrow at 7 p.m. when the team hosts Georgia State. Fans are encouraged to wear pink to the game in support of the Blue Hens’ Breast Cancer Awareness program that will be highlighted prior to the contest.