Boxscore

NEWARK, Del. – After the University of Delaware volleyball team won the first two sets of the match, the William & Mary Tribe came storming back, taking the last three frames to post a 3-2 (25-16, 25-19, 16-25, 17-25, 8-15) victory in the Blue Hens’ Colonial Athletic Association home opener at Viera Court on Friday night.

Despite a season-high 34 digs from Steph Barry (at right), the Blue Hens could not overcome the Tribe’s potent attack as four players reached double-figures in kills for William & Mary (12-3, 2-0 CAA). Sophomore outside hitter Erin Skipper led the way with 21 kills and 12 digs, while Ginny Bray had 11 kills and six blocks.

Along with Barry, Katie Dennehy posted a team-high 15 kills to go along with 11 digs, while Paige Erickson had 14 kills for Delaware (6-11, 2-1).

After the teams split the first four sets of the match, a fifth and decisive set was needed to break the tie. Fittingly, for such a close contest, the last frame was a back-and-forth battle in the beginning. The two teams fought to three early ties before William & Mary grabbed a slight lead at 5-4.

Following a kill and block by Lauren Powell on consecutive plays, the Tribe stretched its lead to three. After a Delaware timeout, William & Mary still had a three-point lead at 9-6 before using a three-point run, championed by a block and kill from Skipper, to grab a convincing 12-6 advantage.

Although the Blue Hens picked up two late points, the Tribe was simply too much to handle as a kill by Skipper capped the set and match at 15-8.

With the setback, the Blue Hens saw their three-match winning streak come to an end. The team also was riding a nine-match roll in regular season conference matches dating back to last season.

In the early going, the match looked promising for the Hens. Although the Tribe held a three-point lead at 7-4, Delaware never backed down. Eventually, the team took eight of the next nine rallies, including two on kills by Dennehy, to grab a four-point lead at 12-8.

Two straight kills by Erickson helped the team extend its lead to five at 18-13, before Dennehy fired back-to-back blasts and Kim Stewart ripped an ace to give the Hens a 22-14 lead. With the set in hand, Delaware capitalized on a block by Dennehy and Elena Delle Donne to clinch a 25-16 victory in the first frame.

With a one-set lead against the powerful Tribe, the Blue Hens did not let up in the second game. Delaware rode two blocks and seven William & Mary miscues to an early 10-4 lead. Although the visitors used a mid-set surge to whittle their deficit down to two at 15-13, the Hens would not allow them to pull any closer.

Following three Tribe errors and a kill by Delle Donne, William & Mary called a timeout trailing 19-14. Despite the break, the Hens kept the momentum and used an impressive run by Jess Chason to capture a 25-19 victory. For Delaware’s last three points of the frame, the sophomore standout posted an assist, kill, and ace to put the team up, two-sets-to-none.

Although Delaware entered the intermission needing just one more set to clinch the victory, William & Mary came out on the attack. After posting a 6-0 lead in the early going of the third set, the Tribe never slowed down.

Delaware could only pull with five on four occasions, the final coming at 20-15 after Erickson notched two straight kills before Dennehy posted another. Eventually, William & Mary regrouped and recorded the wire-to-wire victory at 25-16.

Despite the setback, the Hens came out as the aggressor in the fourth frame. Behind two kills and a block by Dennehy, Delaware grabbed a 6-1 lead before the Tribe called a timeout. The break worked as William & Mary tied the set at six before using another run to take its first lead at 10-9.

Delaware retook control at 11-10 following back-to-back kills by Erickson and Chason and held that advantage until 13-12. After that point, the Blue Hens never held another lead. Although Delaware tied the set at 13, 14, and 15, the Tribe won five straight rallies, capped by an ace from Bryana Carey, to take a 20-15 lead.

William & Mary never looked back, eventually stretching its lead to eight before holding on for a 25-17 victory that forced the fifth and final set.

Delle Donne finished the contest with eight kills and a team-high four blocks, while Greta Gibboney chipped in with 10 digs. Chason also finished with a match-high 41 assists to go along with 12 digs and four kills.

On William & Mary’s side, Lauren Powell and Bryana Carey both recorded at least 10 kills, while Jo Sotto had a team-high 16 digs.

Delaware will be back in action tomorrow at 7 p.m. when the team hosts Virginia Commonwealth.