Photo Courtesy of Mark Campbell

NEWARK, Del. – The University of Delaware volleyball team will host the 33rd annual Delaware Invitational beginning Friday at Barb Viera Court in the Carpenter Sports Building.

The Blue Hens will welcome Army, Princeton, and Rutgers to Newark for the two-day tournament. Rutgers and Army will kick off the invitational on Friday at 11 a.m. before the host Hens battle Princeton at 1 p.m.

The following day, the tournament will conclude with four matches. Delaware and Army will square off at 11 a.m., while Princeton and Rutgers are scheduled to meet at 1 p.m. Later on that day, Princeton will battle Army at 5 p.m. before Delaware wraps up the tournament with a 7 p.m. showdown against Rutgers.

Tickets for the tournament will be available at the gate. The cost of admission is $4 for adults and $2 for children under 17.

Delaware enters the invitational after going 1-2 at the MCM Elegante Classic in Albuquerque, N.M. During the two-day tournament, the Blue Hens dropped 3-0 decisions to highly-touted New Mexico and UC Santa Barbara before posting an impressive 3-2 victory against Portland State.

Two-time All-American libero Steph Barry has led the way so far, posting a team-high 34 digs while earning All-Tournament honors for her efforts last weekend. Kim Stewart guided the offensive attack in New Mexico, blasting 27 kills while adding two aces. Kelly Gibson also had 22 kills and six aces, while Jess Chason (above) chipped in with 87 assists.

Army and Rutgers also were in action last weekend as the Black Knights went 2-1 during their home invitational, while the Scarlet Knights dropped three decisions during the University of Wyoming Cowgirl Classic.

Princeton has not yet played a match and will open its season at the Delaware Invitational. The last time the Hens and Tigers met, Delaware pulled out a 3-1 victory in the first round of the 2007 NCAA Tournament.

AGATE:

2009 Delaware Invitational Schedule of Events

Friday, September 4
11 a.m. – Rutgers vs. Army
1 p.m. – Delaware vs. Princeton

Saturday, September 5
11 a.m. – Army vs. Delaware
1 p.m. – Princeton vs. Rutgers
5 p.m. – Army vs. Princeton
7 p.m. – Delaware vs. Rutgers