Photo Courtesy of Mark Campbell

NEWARK, Del. – Behind a pair of victories last weekend, the University of Delaware volleyball team improved its standing in both the national Ratings Percentage Index and the regional RichKern.com/AVCA rankings.

In the national RPI, Delaware jumped five spots to settle in at 49th after wrapping up the regular season with victories over Northeastern and Hofstra. The squad also moved up in the regional rankings to secure the fourth spot in the East. Overall, the Hens are the highest-ranked team from the Colonial Athletic Association in both polls.

The squad’s national ranking is its highest since placing 46th in the RPI on October 20. The fourth-place ranking in the region is also Delaware’s highest since ending the 2007 season ranked third in the poll.

Last weekend, UD swept Northeastern, 3-0, and posted a 3-2 win over Hofstra in the team’s final two regular season bouts before the CAA Tournament. With that performance, Delaware finished tied atop the conference standings and earned the No. 2 seed in the playoffs.

The Blue Hens are led by All-American libero Stephanie Barry, who ranks second in the CAA in digs. Junior setter Jess Chason also leads the conference in assists, while Katie Dennehy and Kim Stewart rank among the league-leaders in kills.

This season, Delaware boasts four victories over teams in the top-100 of the RPI, including Portland State, who recently captured the Big Sky regular season championship.

Of the Hens’ seven setbacks this year, four have come against teams ranked in the top-50 of the RPI, including Ohio and UC Santa Barbara. The Bobcats and Gauchos are both receiving votes in the AVCA National Top-25 Coaches Poll.

In the RPI rankings, Texas holds the top spot for the fifth straight week. Penn State ranks second and is followed by Florida State, Illinois, and Washington.

In the regional rankings, the Seminoles are the highest-ranked team from the East. Fellow ACC powers Duke and Miami rank second and third, while Delaware and North Carolina round out the top-five.

The Blue Hens will return to action next Monday when the team opens up the CAA Tournament with a semifinal match-up against George Mason at 4 p.m. The playoffs are hosted by VCU at the Verizon Wireless Arena.

AGATE:

2009 RichKern.com/AVCA Regional Rankings - East Division (November 17): 1. Florida State; 2. Duke; 3. Miami (FL); 4. Delaware; 5. North Carolina; 6. Georgia Tech; 7. Clemson; 8. Virginia Tech; 9. VCU; 10. George Mason; 11. Virginia; 12. Winthrop; 13. Liberty; 14. William & Mary; 15. Wake Forest; 16. Northeastern; 17. Coastal Carolina; 18. Florida A&M; 19. UMES; 20. Maryland.