Photo Courtesy of Mark Campbell

Boxscore

ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. - The University of Delaware volleyball team could not overcome a rash of service errors as the Blue Hens succumbed to New Mexico, 3-0 (25-20, 25-13, 25-21), on the first day of the MCM Elegante Classic on Friday evening.

During the match, Delaware committed 14 service errors and could not overcome those miscues as New Mexico quickly capitalized on them during the three-set victory.

Katie Dennehy (at right) led the Blue Hens with eight kills, while Michelle LaLonde chipped in with five on only nine attack attempts.

In the beginning of the match, Delaware looked sharp and jumped out to an early lead. A block by Paige Erickson and Alissa Alker opened the scoring before a run of Lobo miscues gave the Hens a 5-2 advantage. Despite the score, the New Mexico attack was unfazed.

Highlighted by a six-point run and a pair of kills from Anna Lehne, the Lobos came back quickly and grabbed their own lead at 16-9. Back-to-back kills by Alker and Dennehy helped Delaware whittle down its deficit, but New Mexico posted a response that saw the hosts extend their lead to eight at 22-14.

Following a kill by Kim Stewart that helped swing a little momentum back towards Delaware, Kelly Gibson pieced together a nice streak in her first action since suffering a knee injury in the 2008 season opener.

Gibson, a local favorite and native of New Mexico, gave her cheering section something to get excited about late in the opening set. The senior blasted three phenomenal serves in a row, including back-to-back aces. Later, she added her first kill of the season to cut the Lobo lead to four at 24-20.

Despite the late Delaware run, New Mexico iced the first set on a kill by Rose Morris to capture a 25-20 victory.

The Lobos carried the momentum right over into the second set as the squad grabbed a quick 8-3 lead that was only momentarily hampered by two Dennehy kills and a New Mexico error. Although a blast by Stewart broke up the run, the hosts quickly regained their footing and stretched their advantage to seven at 13-6.

Although the squad faced a daunting deficit, Delaware regrouped. Buoyed by a kill and block from Erickson as well as a shot from Dennehy, Delaware pulled back within three at 13-10. Unfortunately, that was the closest the Blue Hens would get. New Mexico eventually rode a seven-point streak at the end of the set to a commanding 25-13 victory and a two-set lead at the intermission.

Following the break in action, the two teams had a back-and-forth battle going in the beginning of the third set. The squads traded blows and fought to seven ties before the final one at 7-7. Dennehy and Stewart highlighted the early Blue Hen effort as Dennehy posted two kills, while Stewart had a block and kill.

After that point, New Mexico won three straight rallies to take a 10-7 lead. A kill by LaLonde broke up the streak, but the Lobos pieced together another three-point surge to grab a 13-8 advantage.

A kill by Erickson and a Lobo error brought Delaware back within three, and after a Dennehy ace and an Alker kill later in the set, the Blue Hens pulled closer at 17-15. Although New Mexico pulled away to a modest four-point lead, Delaware regrouped in a timeout and captured three straight rallies to climb back to within one at 21-20.

Unfortunately, New Mexico had an answer. With their backs to the wall, the Lobos won two straight rallies. After another Dennehy kill snapped the streak, New Mexico finished off the match by winning the last two rallies for a 25-21 victory.

The Lobos were led by Taylor Hadfield, who posted 10 kills and three blocks. Jade Michaelsen also had a match-high 25 assists, while Allison Buck had 17 digs.

Steph Barry posted 11 digs for Delaware, while Gibson had six digs, two aces, and a kill in her return to action. Erickson also had five kills and three blocks for the Hens.
Delaware will look to bounce back on Saturday as the team faces Portland State and UC Santa Barbara during the final day of the New Mexico Tournament.