Photo Courtesy of Mark Campbell

RICHMOND, Va. – University of Delaware junior setter Jess Chason has been named the Colonial Athletic Association Co-Offensive Player of the Week after guiding the Blue Hen volleyball team to the Delaware Invitational championship last weekend.

During the tournament, Chason led Delaware to three straight victories over Princeton, Army, and Rutgers. Highlighted by her efforts, the Blue Hens captured the title for the fourth time in six seasons.

In the team’s three matches, Chason posted a team-high 108 assists and guided a potent offensive attack that finished with .288 hitting percentage. She also tied for the team lead with five aces and chipped in with 27 digs and four blocks during the two-day tournament. For her efforts, she was honored as the Delaware Invitational Most Valuable Player.

Chason opened up the tournament with 30 assists and three aces in a victory over Princeton. Her three aces against the Tigers marked her highest single-match total since blasting six against Alcorn State as a freshman in 2007.

The following day, she posted 43 assists and 15 digs against Army, marking her second double-double of the season. Later, she capped her weekend with 35 assists in the championship bout against Rutgers. Her assist total against the Scarlet Knights marked her second highest in a three-set match during her career.

On the season, Chason leads the team with 195 assists. She also ranks third with 44 digs and fourth with 10 blocks.

Last season, Chason had a breakout campaign as a sophomore when she led the CAA with 1,168 assists and ranked third with a 9.12 assists-per-set average. Her finest moment came in the conference championship match when she set career-highs with 59 assists and 16 digs during a five-set victory over Northeastern. Her performance earned her the tournament’s Most Outstanding Performer Award.

Chason shared her weekly CAA award with Georgia State’s Ashley Jones. George Mason’s Kelsey Bohman also earned Defense Player of the Week honors, while James Madison’s Danielle Erb was selected as the top rookie.

The Delaware volleyball team will be back in action on Friday when the squad opens the Ohio University Tournament with a 10 a.m match-up against Indiana. Later that day, the Hens will face Missouri State at 5 p.m.