Photo Courtesy of Mark Campbell

Delaware vs. Princeton Boxscore

Army vs. Rutgers Boxscore

NEWARK, Del. - Behind 11 kills from Katie Dennehy and eight aces by the Blue Hens, the University of Delaware volleyball team opened up its home slate with a convincing 3-0 (25-14, 25-13, 25-11) victory over Princeton during the Delaware Invitational on Friday afternoon at Barb Viera Court.

Dennehy (at right) posted her match-high 11 kills on just 20 attack attempts for a stellar .500 hitting percentage. Michelle LaLonde also blasted eight kills and hit .667, while Jess Chason posted 30 assists and three aces.

Although Princeton held an early advantage in the beginning of the match, Delaware never looked uncomfortable. Despite trailing by one at 4-3, the Hens ripped off four straight winners, capped by back-to-back aces from Greta Gibboney that just snuck over the net and found open spaces.

Following a Tiger timeout, Delaware continued to extend its lead. Freshman Alissa Alker notched two kills and a block in the middle of the set, and after back-to-back blasts by Kim Stewart and Michelle LaLonde, the Blue Hens went into another timeout leading by 11 at 20-9.

Princeton eventually pieced together a short four-point roll, but two kills and a pair of assists by Chason closed out the set and gave Delaware a 25-14 victory.

In the second frame, the Blue Hens kept the momentum going and came roaring out of the gate. Following a small 6-5 advantage, Delaware captured five straight rallies, highlighted by a pair of aces from Steph Barry, to grab an imposing 11-5 lead entering a timeout.

Following the break, the teams traded blows. Delaware sustained its six-point lead until late in the match when the squad captured five of six rallies, including three kills by Dennehy, to gain set point at 24-13. Fittingly, the junior outside hitter launched another shot into the Tiger defense to quickly give the Hens a two-set lead with a 25-13 victory in the second stanza.

After the mid-match break, Delaware jumped on Princeton. Behind a trio of aces from Chason, a kill by Alker, and four Tiger miscues, the Hens held an incredible 8-0 lead in the early going.

Two kills each from Stewart and Alker allowed Delaware to continue its onslaught and grab a double-digit advantage at 14-3. Although Princeton went on a minor run that saw the visitors pull back within seven, the deficit was simply too large to overcome.

Three late kills by LaLonde and one each from Alker, Dennehy, and Stewart helped Delaware cruise to its largest victory of the match as the squad clinched the three-set sweep with a 25-11 win in the final frame.

Barry finished the contest with a match-high 12 digs, while Stewart had eight kills and seven digs. Alker also had the best performance of her young career, ripping nine kills to go along with three blocks.

Princeton was led by Sheena Donohue, who had 11 digs and four kills. Molly Bagshaw also had 16 assists for the Tigers.

In earlier action, Army trumped Rutgers, 3-1, during the opening match of the Delaware Invitational. The Black Knights were led by Ariana Mankus, who had 20 kills during the contest. Caitlin Saxton chipped in with 21 kills for Rutgers.

Delaware will be back in action tomorrow for an 11 a.m. match-up with Army. The squad will then wrap up the invitational against Rutgers at 7 p.m. Prior to the start of the nightcap, the squad will have a special presentation to unveil its 2008 Colonial Athletic Association Championship banners.