Photo Courtesy of Mark Campbell

Boxscore

RICHMOND, Va. - After an early exit from the Colonial Athletic Association playoffs, the University of Delaware volleyball team rebounded with a quick 3-0 (25-23, 25-15, 25-15) victory over Liberty during a non-conference bout at Virginia Commonwealth's Siegel Center on Friday afternoon.

Behind a high-powered offensive attack that combined to hit a lofty .261 during the contest, Delaware (20-8) quickly disposed of Liberty (20-13). Katie Dennehy blasted a team-high 13 kills and hit .393, while Kim Stewart (at right) chipped in with a double-double after tallying 12 digs and 11 kills.

Senior libero Stephanie Barry also posted 21 digs to lead the squad’s defensive effort. With her performance, she moved into sole possession of ninth place on the NCAA’s career digs list with 2,380. She also played in her 484th straight set on Friday, vaulting her past former teammate Colleen Walsh and into third place on the NCAA’s all-time iron man list.

In the early part of the first frame, neither team could get a true grasp on the set. As quickly as Delaware took a 3-1 lead, Liberty rallied to snatch a 7-5 advantage. Later, following a three-point roll aided by an ace and kill by Paige Erickson, the Hens regained a modest edge at 8-7.

Trailing by one, Liberty caught on fire. The Flames ripped off seven points in a row, highlighted by three kills and a pair of blocks from Nicki Scripko. Staring squarely at a six-point deficit, the Blue Hens rallied back. The squad eclipsed Liberty’s streak by piecing together nine straight winners. An ace by Jess Chason, two kills from Alissa Alker, and a combo block by Stewart and Michelle LaLonde helped UD build an 18-15 lead heading into a Liberty timeout.

Although an ace by Barry and kills from Alker and Erickson helped the team pull out to a five-point edge at 22-17, Liberty clawed back into the set. Aided by three Blue Hen misfires, the Flames eventually pulled back within one at 22-21. Liberty kept its deficit there until 24-23 when Dennehy put an end to the back-and-forth affair with a kill that clinched a 25-23 victory.

With such a close contest in the first frame, Delaware looked to put the second set away early with a quick start. After Liberty won the first rally, UD swept the next eight, including back-to-back aces by Erickson. Later, a kill by Kelly Gibson helped the team secure an eight-point advantage at 10-2 before the Flames retaliated.

A mid-set surge allowed Liberty to take six of the next eight rallies and pull back within four at 12-8. With their commanding grasp on the set now in question, Delaware returned fire. Behind two kills by Dennehy and a blistering ace from Gibson, the squad locked up a 17-9 lead heading into a Liberty timeout.

Although the Flames battled through the end of the set, the squad never really regained its footing. A pair of late blasts by Stewart and an ace by Barry eventually gave the Hens set-point before Dennehy put the capper on a 25-15 victory with a crushing kill.

Reeling from their losses in the first two sets, Liberty regrouped early in the third. The squad pulled out to a 9-3 lead despite two early kills by Alker. Unfortunately for the Flames, their advantage was short-lived.

Behind a well-rounded performance from LaLonde, who notched a kill, block, and assist, Delaware pieced together a five-point streak that evened the set at 10. Still tied two rallies later, the Blue Hens slowly put the contest out-of-reach. Alker launched two kills and LaLonde stuffed a pair of Liberty attacks to propel the squad to a 17-12 lead.

After momentarily pulling back within three, Liberty simply could not sustain its attack during the waning moments of the match. Eventually, Delaware ended the contest on an 8-1 run to extinguish the Flames and secure the three-set sweep with a 25-15 victory. Fittingly, Dennehy came up big in the end again, firing the clinching kill for the third straight set.

Jess Chason helped guide the offensive attack as the CAA Setter of the Year dished out 36 assists and added nine digs. The Blue Hens also benefited from eight aces during the match, including three from Erickson. Barry also had two, while Gibson, Chason, and Greta Gibboney each launched one apiece.

Liberty was led by Nicki Scripko, who had 17 kills, eight digs, and three blocks. Courtney Boggs also had 27 assists and 11 digs.