Photos Courtesy of Mark Campbell

Boxscore

NEWARK, Del. - Trailing by two sets, the University of Delaware volleyball team overcame its daunting deficit with an impressive effort in the final three frames to post an incredible 3-2 victory over the powerful North Carolina Tar Heels in front of a record crowd at the Bob Carpenter Center on Friday evening.

Steph Barry (top right) recorded 35 digs, while Katie Dennehy (middle right) posted a career-high 23 kills to pace Delaware (5-5). Jess Chason (bottom right) also notched 52 assists to help lead the Hens in their stunning victory over the reigning Atlantic Coast Conference champions.

For the contest, 2,517 fans packed into the arena to watch a match-up featuring two teams coming off NCAA Tournament berths last season. The official attendance set a new record for a collegiate volleyball match in the state of Delaware. It also marked the highest attendance in a home game for a Delaware team in a sport besides football or basketball in school history.

Although Delaware looked out of its element early on at the Bob Carpenter Center, the squad caught fire in the third set. In the beginning of the pivotal frame, the Hens fell behind quickly as North Carolina looked poised for a three-set sweep. Facing a 14-6 deficit, the squad showed incredible grit as Delaware clawed back into the match.

Still trailing by eight at 17-9, Dennehy helped take control. The junior standout blasted three quick kills before Stewart added another as North Carolina called for a timeout with its lead down to five at 18-13. Although the Tar Heels momentarily broke the Blue Hen run, Delaware regrouped. A kill by Erickson along with a block and blast from LaLonde helped the squad pull within one at 19-18.

Kills by LaLonde and Alissa Alker helped keep the set within reach before Dennehy once again stepped up to the challenge. Trailing by two at 22-20, the Hens went on a roll. Dennehy slammed two kills, and after a pair of UNC miscues, the Delaware star fittingly iced the set with a blast to clinch a 25-22 victory.

Riding a wave of momentum supported by a raucous crowd, the Blue Hens never looked back. Three kills by LaLonde and a pair by Dennehy helped lift Delaware to an early 10-6 lead. North Carolina responded, taking five of the next six rallies to knot the set at 11.

With no margin for error, the Hens looked calm. Alker blasted a kill and LaLonde posted a block and kill to give the team some breathing room. Later, Stewart found an open spot in the Tar Heel defense and LaLonde fired back-to-back shots before North Carolina asked for a timeout staring at a 17-12 deficit.

Dennehy kept the momentum going, ripping a shot following the break. Although UNC took the next three rallies, a Barry ace and another Dennehy kill helped the team stretch its lead to 21-15.

With a commanding lead, Delaware refused to let the set slip away. A Tar Heel error kept the Hens going before the hosts ended the frame on a tear. Three late kills from Dennehy, Stewart, and Erickson allowed the squad to capture a 25-20 victory and knot the match at two-sets apiece.

Back on an even surface, the Hens used their home court advantage to perfection in the final set. Buoyed by an increasingly boisterous fan base, Delaware got off to an incredible start in the fifth frame. Back-to-back blocks by LaLonde along with a Greta Gibboney ace allowed the squad to jump out to a 7-1 lead.

Later, Stewart posted a kill and Dennehy added consecutive blasts to give the Hens an 11-5 lead heading into a UNC timeout. The visitors regrouped for a moment, winning the next three rallies, but Delaware refused to go down.

Dennehy added two more kills before a Tar Heel error gave the squad match point at 14-11. Although a Suzanne Haydel kill kept UNC alive for a brief moment, North Carolina ripped the next serve into the net to clinch the incredible come-from-behind victory for the Blue Hens.

Along with Dennehy, Stewart and LaLonde also posted double-digit kill totals after both blasted 13 against the Tar Heels. Gibboney chipped in with a pair of aces as well.

North Carolina was led by Kaylie Gibson, who posted a match-high 39 digs. Ingrid Hanson-Tuntland also added 17 kills for the Heels, while Suzanne Haydel chipped in with 15.

Not only are the Blue Hens the only volleyball team in the Colonial Athletic Association that has played before a crowd larger than 1,500 this season, but the squad has now done it twice. Along with their record-setting home crowd on Friday, Delaware also helped draw 1,782 fans to the season opener against the New Mexico Lobos in Albuquerque.

Delaware will look to continue its outstanding play when the team hosts Seton Hall at Viera Court on Wednesday at 7 p.m.