Hens Win Eighth Straight, Down Second Place George Mason, 3-2, in Volleyball
October 30, 2010
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Photo Courtesy of Mark Campbell
• Boxscore
NEWARK, Del. - - The University of Delaware volleyball team sustained its first place standing in the Colonial Athletic Association as they defeated George Mason, 3-2, to win its eighth straight contest, on Viera Court, Saturday night. Set scores for the night were 23-25, 25-20, 25-22, 17-25, and 15-11.
Dennehy (at right) led Delaware (20-5, 9-1 CAA) with her third straight double-double (15 kills, 13 digs). It was her fifth double-double of the season. Alissa Alker and Jess Chason also contributed double-doubles as Alker finished with 13 kills and 10 assists and Chason had a match high 49 assists and 21 digs. Paige Erickson led the way at the net with seven block assists and Greta Gibboney held down the defense with a match high 29 digs.
Mason (12-10, 7-3 CAA) was led by Noelle Fanella who tallied a match high 19 kills while hitting .250 for the match. Danielle Cook and Lana Zonjic also finished with double figures in kills with 14 and 13, respectively. Fernanda Bartels added a double-double with 42 assists and 23 digs. Kelsey Bohman chipped in with 13 block assists at the net for the Patriots.
The match itself was a game of rallies, as each team used runs of three, four and five points each to sway the momentum back and forth. According to head coach Bonnie Kenny, the match seemed like a playoff contest, as both teams’ players and coaches laid it all out on the floor.
“That was a great match. That was a CAA Championship match right there,” stated Kenny. “Both teams sustained a very high level of play. I was really proud that we stayed patient in rallies, and disciplined in our defensive position. It was a great match. It’s a match no one should have to lose but I’m glad we won.”
The mood of the game changed when Kenny substituted Katie Hank and Chelsea Lawrence into the ball game, mid-way through the third set. Lawrence had back-to-back-to-back kills in game three, bringing the Hens to a 19-19 tie in the third set.
Hank and Lawrence showed their presence in the fourth set as Hank finished with three kills and a service ace while Lawrence added two kills and a block assist.
“I thought Chelsea came in and changed the match for us,” Kenny said of her younger players off the bench. “Katie Hank did a really good job when she came off the bench. We needed that little extra and that was a huge thing for us and I was proud that they did it.“
With the win, Delaware reached the 20 win bench-mark for the 26th time in program history. The Blue Hens are competing in the 38th season in its program’s history.
“I feel bad for them, the coach said after the two hour twelve minute match. “I have never felt bad for beating someone, but a match like that this time of year, that’s a type of match you look back on and say, ‘wow’. I think we will have another opportunity to play them again.”
Delaware returns to action next Friday, as it hits the road for two weekend contests, first against VCU on Friday, before taking on William & Mary on Saturday.
AGATE:
Delaware def. George Mason, 3-2
Delaware (kills-assists-digs): Erickson (8-1-3), Stewart (10-0-9), Dennehy (15-0-13), Chason (2-49-21), Alker (13-0-10), Evans (0-0-1), Rosehill (0-0-4), Hank (3-0-0), Gibboney (0-6-29), Lawrence (5-0-0)
George Mason: Goode (6-2-13), Boryc (0-1-12), Cook (14-0-0), Zonjic (13-0-12), Bartels (4-42-23), Fanella (19-4-9), McCarter (0-1-14), Hughes (0-0-6), Bohman (6-6-1)
Total Team Blocks: Delaware – 9.0, George Mason – 18.0
