Delaware - Western Michigan Boxscore

Delaware - Wake Forest Boxscore

WINSTON-SALEM, N.C. - With both of the squad’s captains nursing injuries on the bench, the University of Delaware volleyball team could not quite overcome the glaring absences as the Blue Hens fell to Western Michigan, 3-2 (18-25, 25-19, 17-25, 25-23, 6-15), and Wake Forest, 3-0 (25-16, 25-22, 25-17), at the Reynolds Gym on Saturday.

After losing Kelly Gibson for the season and Michelle LaLonde for the tournament, Delaware (2-8) was led by Katie Dennehy (at right), who had a strong showing in the Black & Gold Challenge. Against the Broncos (6-1), she posted a team-high 14 kills, while she chipped in with six more against the Demon Deacons (6-3). For her efforts, she earned All-Tournament honors.

Along with Dennehy, sophomore Paige Erickson also posted 20 kills on Saturday, while freshman Meghan Bonk chipped in with 17. All-American libero Steph Barry had a strong performance as well, leading the way with 26 digs in the first match before picking up 22 against Wake Forest.

After the Blue Hens tied WMU at two sets apiece in the first match of the day, the teams squared off in the decisive fifth frame. Unfortunately, following a kill by Dennehy that gave the team a 1-0 lead, Delaware simply did not have enough left to hang with Western Michigan.

The Broncos reeled off five straight points before the Hens called a timeout. After the break, Delaware got two quick points following a WMU error and an ace from Dennehy, but Western Michigan immediately took off on a six-point roll to grab an 11-3 advantage.

Facing a large deficit in the race to 15, the Hens could not reign in the Broncos despite back-to-back plays that saw Kim Stewart post a kill and a block. Eventually, Western Michigan cruised to a 15-6 victory to clinch the match.

The Broncos were led by Michelle Moore, who finished the contest with 24 kills, 13 digs, and three blocks. Jillian Mitchell also had a team-high 49 assists, while four players reached double-figures in digs, led by Caitlin Strimel’s 22.

In the first set, Western Michigan won four of the first five rallies before the Blue Hens came storming back, eventually grabbing a 9-8 lead following two kills by Stewart and one each from Bonk and Erickson.

Unflustered by Delaware’s new-found life, Western Michigan took the next four points and 11 of the next 14 to take a six-point advantage at 19-12. Following a Blue Hen timeout, Stewart fired two kills into the Bronco defense, while Greta Gibboney uncorked an ace to pull Delaware back within four at 19-15.

That was as close as the team would come, however, as Western Michigan closed out the set on a 6-3 run to post a 25-18 victory.

The second set played much like the first with the Broncos holding an early lead before the Blue Hens rallied back into the game. After trailing by as many as four in the early going, two straight kills by Bonk snapped the Broncos’ streak before Delaware went on a run of its own.

Trailing by two at 7-5, Delaware ran off six straight points, highlighted by three Erickson kills and one each from Dennehy and Jess Chason. Now leading by four at 11-7, the Hens eventually continued their late-set surge and extended their advantage to six at 19-13.

Although Western Michigan mounted a response and pulled within three, the team could not come any closer as back-to-back blocks by Dennehy and Elena Delle Donne capped the Blue Hen victory at 25-19.

Following the mid-match break, the two squads battled to an 8-8 draw at the beginning of the third set. Two kills by Kate Corbett and an ace from Allyson Doyle eventually broke the tie and gave the Broncos a three-point lead.

Delaware’s deficit was still at three at 17-14 before Western Michigan used an impressive showing at the end of the set to capture an eight-point victory. Utilizing an 8-3 run that included two kills each from Jillian Mitchell and Michelle Moore, the Broncos eased into a 25-17 victory.

Showing a strong resolve despite missing its two captains, Delaware refused to go down quietly. The Hens took an early 10-6 lead in the fourth set after Bonk notched three quick kills and a block. As they continued to do all day, the Broncos answered with a 10-5 run that saw the squad take a 16-15 lead.

Unfazed by the Bronco surge, the Blue Hens answered with a run of their own. Delaware won seven of the next eight rallies led by two kills each from Chason, Dennehy, and Erickson. Although Western Michigan called two timeouts during that stretch, the Hens refused to relinquish their lead.

Despite a late rally from the Broncos, a Kim Stewart kill iced a 25-23 victory for Delaware and sent the match into the fateful fifth set.

Stewart eventually finished the contest with eight kills and two blocks, while Chason posted another double-double with 38 assists and 12 digs. Along with her 14 kills, Dennehy also chipped in with nine digs, two solo blocks, and an ace.

Delaware returned to the court later in the day to cap off the tournament when the squad battled the host Demon Deacons. In the early going, the Hens held tough and even took an early lead in the first set after back-to-back kills by Bonk and Stewart gave the team an 11-9 advantage.

Wake Forest battled back, tying the match at 11 before going on a quick 6-2 run that saw Kadija Fornah record three kills to give the team a 17-13 lead. Following a Blue Hen timeout, Stewart notched a kill and ace on consecutive plays to cut Delaware's lead to two, but the squad could never pull any closer.

Wake Forest quickly went on an 8-1 run to cap the set and give the Deacons a one-game lead with a 25-16 victory.

Riding a wave of momentum, the Deacons rolled to a 13-9 lead in the second set before the Blue Hens came storming back. Using an eight-point run, highlighted by two aces from Greta Gibboney and kills by Bonk, Erickson, and Stewart, the Hens erased the deficit and pulled ahead at 17-13.

Delaware still held a four-point edge at 20-16 before Wake Forest regrouped during a timeout. Although a block by Delle Donne gave the Hens a 21-16 lead, Wake Forest took the next eight rallies, including two blocks and a kill by Lauren McIntyre, to post a 24-21 lead.

With set point, the Deacons failed on their first attempt to close out the frame but capitalized on their second shot, posting a 25-22 victory.

With two games in hand, Wake Forest was quick out of the gate in the third set as well, taking a 12-7 lead before Delaware called a timeout. The stoppage proved to be ineffective as the Demon Deacons stretched their lead to nine at 18-9.

Refusing to go away, the Hens mounted a short rally to pull within six after Erickson recorded two straight kills and Stewart blasted her second ace of the match. The deficit was too much to overcome, however, as Wake Forest ended the contest on an 8-5 run to clinch the victory with a 25-17 win.

The hosts were led by Kadija Fornah, who notched 16 kills, and Kelsey Jones, who added 42 assists. Both players eventually made the All-Tournament team with Jones earning Most Valuable Player honors.

Chason led the Hens with 26 assists against Wake Forest, while Delle Donne had two blocks. Gibboney and Stewart shared the team-lead with two aces apiece.

Delaware will be back in action next weekend when the Blue Hens travel to the College of Charleston Tournament beginning on September 19. Delaware will open up with Gardner-Webb on Friday at 4:30 p.m. before facing Duke and the College of Charleston on Saturday.