Photo Courtesy of Mark Campbell

Boxscore

NEWARK, Del. - Despite overcoming an early deficit, the University of Delaware volleyball team could not hang on in the end as Virginia Commonwealth upended the Blue Hens, 3-2 (25-21, 15-25, 18-25, 25-23, 15-10) during a key Colonial Athletic Association bout at Viera Court on Friday evening.

After dropping the first set of the match, Delaware (15-7, 8-2 CAA) rebounded nicely to take the next two and grab control of the contest. Despite the Blue Hens' best efforts, however, VCU (19-8, 7-2) refused to go down quietly, sweeping the last two frames to complete the five-set victory.

Kim Stewart (at right) and Katie Dennehy both had 14 kills to pace the Blue Hen attack. Dennehy also chipped in with five of the team’s 13 blocks to help lead the defensive effort.

Following an impressive performance in the middle of the match that saw Delaware overcome a loss in the opening frame to grab a two-sets-to-one lead, VCU battled back. The visitors snatched the first five rallies of the fourth frame, and despite a block and kill by Stewart, the squad pulled out to an imposing 10-5 lead.

After VCU extended its advantage to seven at 15-8, Delaware battled back. Aided by kills from Stewart and Alissa Alker as well as a Kelly Gibson ace, the Hens whittled their deficit down to three at 15-12.

Although Virginia Commonwealth momentarily pulled away again, taking a 21-16 lead heading into a UD timeout, the hosts never quit. Delaware captured seven of the next 10 rallies, including two kills by Dennehy, to pull within one at 24-23. Unfortunately, following a Ram timeout, the squad regrouped and a kill by Michala Kvapilova put an end to the frame on the very next battle.

With the match knotted at two, the CAA heavyweights went to a decisive fifth-set to settle the bout. With momentum on their side, the Rams got the best of the Hens in the early going, swiping nine of the first 12 rallies before Delaware called a timeout.

The stoppage paid off for UD as the squad won five of the next eight battles, highlighted by another pair of kills from Dennehy. Steph Barry also made a phenomenal play during the comeback, saving a ball destined for the stands to keep a rally alive that eventually resulted in a Ram error.

Now trailing by only four at 12-8, the team continued to fight hard. Blasts by Stewart and Alker brought the hosts to within three before VCU called a timeout.

Refreshed from the break, the Rams put the match away. A Blue Hen miscue and a Kvapilova kill propelled VCU to a 15-10 victory.

The Rams were led by 14 kills from Kvapilova and 11 by Kelsie Clegg. Lenka Melicharkova also tallied 38 assists and 13 digs for the victors.

Virginia Commonwealth looked just as strong early as they did at the end of the contest. Although the first set was a back-and-forth affair, as evidenced by 12 ties and five lead changes, the Rams came out on top. Following the final deadlock at 20-20, VCU pulled away.

Two Delaware errors gave the Rams some breathing room before Melincharkova picked up a kill to give the squad a 23-20 lead. Although a blast from Alker momentarily halted the Ram run, the visitors rebounded. Another kill by Melincharkova gave the team set-point before Clegg capped the win on the next rally.

The early part of the second set was just as evenly matched as the first frame. The two squads found themselves tied at 10 before Delaware went on a roll. Buoyed by two kills from Michelle LaLonde and single blasts by Stewart and Jess Chason, the squad reeled off seven rallies in a row to take a 17-10 advantage.

After VCU broke the streak, Delaware ran away again. A couple of kills by Dennehy and a Steph Barry ace allowed the team to earn set-point at 24-12. The Rams held off the inevitable for three rallies, but Dennehy returned to cap the frame with a crushing blow at 25-15.

In the third set, the two squads once again matched wits in the early going, fighting to a 10-10 tie. After that point, Delaware broke free. Kills by LaLonde and Dennehy coupled with blocks from Alker and Stewart helped the team grab a 16-11 lead.

Although VCU fought back to within two at 17-15, the Hens held off their charge. Two kills from Stewart and a Dennehy block gave the team a 23-18 lead heading into a Virginia Commonwealth timeout. The break did little to slow down Delaware as the squad captured the final two rallies to clinch a 25-18 victory.

Unfortunately, despite their two-sets-to-one lead, UD could not hold on in the end. Despite out-hitting VCU, .131-.094, and holding edges in blocks (13-7) and aces (4-3), Delaware simply could not overcome their counterparts.

Barry finished with a match-high 28 digs for the Hens, while Chason chipped in with 41 assists and 13 digs. LaLonde and Paige Erickson also had four blocks apiece.