Blue Hen Volleyball Puts Win Streak On The Line Friday vs. League Leader Towson
October 25, 2012
File Photo Courtesy of Mark Campbell
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NEWARK, Del. -- The University of Delaware volleyball team will look to continue its strong play of late as the Blue Hens close out their four-match homestand against Colonial Athletic Association rival Towson this Friday at the Bob Carpenter Center at 7 p.m.
Delaware has won four straight matches and nine of its last 10 contests, improving to 12-12 overall this season and vaulting into a tie for second place in the CAA standings with a 6-2 league mark. The Tigers, who have won 14 consecutive matches, are 21-3 this year and currently lead the conference with a perfect 8-0 league mark. Delaware and Northeastern are each tied for second place two games back, although the Blue Hens hold the tiebreaker due to their 3-2 victory over the Huskies last Friday.
Senior outside hitter Alissa Alker paced Delaware to a perfect 3-0 week by leading the Blue Hens with 43 kills, including a season-high 21 kills to go with 26 digs against Northeastern to record her second career 20-20 match. Alker was named the CAA Co-Offensive Player of the Week for her efforts, while freshman libero Ariel Shonk was awarded CAA Defensive Player of the Week honors. Shonk, who earned her third conference accolade this year, had 83 digs for the week and recorded at least 24 digs in each of Delaware’s three matches. Shonk’s current average of 5.71 digs per match for the season ranks second all-time at Delaware, while her 491 digs lead the CAA.
Towson, which opened league play with a 3-0 win over Delaware on September 21, leads the conference with a .277 hitting percentage, 13.52 assists per set, and 14.52 kills per set. The Tigers feature three players who have surpassed the 200-kill plateau on the season including outside hitter Katy Buck who leads the Tigers this season with 278 kills, fourth most in the CAA. Fellow outside hitter Dayane Van Ass has recorded 214 kills on the year, while senior middle blocker Alysha McCreary rounds out this Tiger frontline with 203 kills. Senior setter Aubrey Kirven has recorded a conference-high 991 assists this season, while Paige Sekerak leads Towson with 306 digs.
Delaware travels to Atlanta to face Georgia State on Friday, November 2, before returning home the following weekend to wrap up the regular season versus William and Mary and UNCW.
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