Photo Courtesy of Mark Campbell

Boxscore

NEWARK, Del. - Behind a flurry of aces and strong performances from Kim Stewart and Jess Chason, the University of Delaware volleyball team opened up Colonial Athletic Association action with an impressive 3-0 (25-15, 25-20, 25-18) victory over George Mason on Friday night at Barb Viera Court.

Stewart, the reigning CAA Rookie of the Year, blasted 10 kills and posted nine digs to lead Delaware (7-5, 1-0 CAA). Jess Chason (at right) also had a well-rounded performance, leading the team with 30 assists, three aces, and a trio of blocks.

Paige Erickson and Steph Barry also fired three aces apiece, while Barry chipped in with 18 digs as well to become the first player in program history to eclipse the 2,000-dig plateau for her career.

George Mason (11-5, 0-2), who entered the match with the conference’s second-best overall record, battled Delaware shot-for-shot in the early going. Stewart fired a pair of early kills, but the Patriots hung tough and fought to a 6-6 tie.

After a block and blast by Dennehy gave Delaware a two-point lead heading into a Mason timeout, the Blue Hen servers started dishing out aces to guide the team on a mid-set surge. Barry fired back-to-back winners, and two rallies later, Chason also ripped consecutive aces to give the squad a 14-8 lead.

Later, behind an ace by Erickson and a pair of kills by Dennehy and Michelle LaLonde, the Blue Hens cruised to a 25-15 victory in the opening set.

Despite the setback, the Patriots came out strong in the second frame. Buoyed by an early 5-1 run and three quick blocks by Kelsey Bohman, the visitors stormed out to an imposing 13-6 advantage.

With the confidence that comes from back-to-back conference titles, Delaware answered the George Mason run. Following an impressive 10-4 streak, highlighted by two kills each from Stewart and LaLonde, the Hens came all the way back to knot the set at 17 heading into a Patriot timeout.

The stoppage did little to trip up Delaware as the squad quickly came out and won the next three rallies, capped by back-to-back shots from Stewart. Later, after the two squads traded a string of blocks, including a pair from Chason, the Hens earned set point at 24-20. Erickson quickly wrapped up the frame after blasting the clincher on the very next rally.

Following the mid-match break, the teams battled to a slew of early ties with the final one coming at 10-10. After that point, Delaware took control. The hosts won the next seven rallies, including another ace by Barry and a block and kill by Erickson, to take a 17-10 lead.

With a commanding seven-point lead, the Hens eased into the three-set sweep. Erickson and Kelly Gibson added aces in the waning moments of the match before LaLonde clinched the victory with her eighth kill of the contest to give Delaware its third straight win of the season.

Dennehy finished the match with eight kills and a pair of blocks, while Erickson added six kills to go along with her three aces.

George Mason (11-5, 0-1), which had won more non-league games than any Patriot team since 1996, was led by Noelle Fanella’s 10-dig, eight-kill performance. The squad also received 22 assists from Fernanda Bartels.

Delaware will return to action tomorrow at 7 p.m. when the Blue Hens host CAA rival James Madison at Viera Court.