Photo Courtesy of Jim Pierce

NEWARK, Del. – Highlighted by a trip to New Mexico and the first home matches at the Bob Carpenter Center in eight years, the 2009 University of Delaware volleyball schedule was announced today by head coach Bonnie Kenny (at right).

The Blue Hens, who are coming off their second consecutive Colonial Athletic Association championship, will also take on five teams that made the 2008 NCAA Tournament. A September 18 bout at the Bob Carpenter Center against the North Carolina Tar Heels, who advanced to the second round of last year’s bracket, headlines the home slate.

Delaware will also face Liberty, Missouri State, Ohio, and Portland State, which are all coming off appearances in the national tournament.

The Hens return a strong corps of players from last year’s team that went 19-16 and captured its second straight CAA crown. Two-time All-American libero Steph Barry returns for her senior campaign, while All-Conference selection Katie Dennehy and CAA Rookie of the Year Kim Stewart will be back as well.

The team will also return the services of setter Jess Chason, who garnered the CAA Tournament’s Most Outstanding Performer Award last year. Seniors Kelly Gibson and Michelle LaLonde as well as juniors Paige Erickson and Greta Gibboney will all return as well.

Delaware will open its season with a trip to the University of New Mexico for the 2009 MCM Elegante Classic beginning on August 28. The squad kicks off the Tournament with a showdown against the host Lobos on Friday night before facing Portland State and UC Santa Barbara on Saturday.

The following week, the Hens will host their annual invitational at Barb Viera Court. The team will face Princeton at 1 p.m. on September 4 before capping the tournament the following day against Army at 11 a.m. and Rutgers at 7 p.m.

Delaware will then conclude its tournament schedule with a two-day competition hosted by Ohio University from September 11-12. During the invitational, the Hens will take on the host Bobcats as well as Indiana and Missouri State.

The squad will return to Newark for a four-match home stand beginning on September 18 with its 7 p.m. contest against the Tar Heels at the BCC. Delaware will then take on Seton Hall on September 23 before opening up the CAA season with back-to-back matches against George Mason and James Madison on September 25 and 26.

Following a short road swing that will take the team to Towson on October 2 and Villanova on October 6, the Hens will continue their home slate with bouts against Hofstra on October 9 and Northeastern on the 10th.

After that brief homecoming, Delaware will face its longest stretch of road matches. The team will battle UNC Wilmington on October 16 and Georgia State on October 18. The very next weekend, the squad will remain on the road for contests against James Madison (Oct. 23) and George Mason (Oct. 24).

The Blue Hens will conclude their regular season home slate with matches against Virginia Commonwealth (Oct. 30) and William & Mary (Oct. 31) before facing local rival Towson on November 6 at the Bob Carpenter Center.

Delaware will wrap up its regular season with a trip north for meetings with Northeastern on November 13 and Hofstra on November 15. One week later, the three-day CAA playoffs will commence. As usual, the tournament will be hosted by the highest seed.

After the conference championship, the Hens will take part in Virginia Commonwealth’s Invitational during the Thanksgiving weekend. The team will open the two-day event with a match against Liberty on November 27 before facing Pittsburgh on November 28.

The NCAA Tournament will begin on December 4 with the first and second rounds spread out over a three-day period.

Complete Schedule