University of Delaware Volleyball Drops CAA Opener at Towson, 3-0
September 21, 2012
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File Photo Courtesy of Mark Campbell
• Boxscore
TOWSON, Md. -- The two-time defending Colonial Athletic Association champion University of Delaware volleyball team opened conference play on Friday night at Towson, but the Blue Hens dropped three close sets in a 3-0 loss to the Tigers.
Towson, which won its sixth consecutive match while improving to 13-3 on the year, won by set scores of 25-19, 32-30 and 25-19. Delaware dropped its second straight match, falling to 3-11 this season.
Blue Hen senior outside hitter Alissa Alker (at right) led Delaware with 13 kills while committing just three attack errors as she hit .270 for the match. Fellow senior Chelsea Lawrence had her second consecutive strong match as she hit a team-best .304 after registering eight kills to go with just one error.
UD freshman Ariel Shonk once again led the Blue Hens with 23 digs, although no other Delaware player had more than seven. Classmate Mackenzie Olsen recorded 28 assists on the night, while she and Lawrence each had two blocks.
I’ishah Keiilkoa led Towson with 12 kills against one error to hit an impressive .550 for the match, while Katy Buck also had 12 kills to go with 11 digs to record a double-double. Paige Sekerak paced the Tigers with 17 digs on the night, while Aubrey Kirvin chipped in with 14 digs and 46 assists.
The Tigers used a 5-1 run in the opening set to take a 10-6 lead, and eventually extended the margin to 14-8 following a kill by Marta Machos. Delaware answered back with three consecutive points, and the Blue Hens were within two at 19-17 when Katie Hank delivered a kill.
However Towson won the next three points to push the lead back to five, while a kill by the Buck put the set away.
Looking to bounce back in the second stanza, the Blue Hens jumped out to an early 7-3 lead following consecutive kills by Lawrence. The advantage grew to as much as 13-8ut Towson countered with four straight points and the rest of the set was extremely close.
Delaware maintained its lead for most of the way, and the Blue Hens were a point away from knotting the match when the Blue Hens took a 24-19 margin. However Towson stormed back with five straight points to pull even, and the teams remained close until it was tied at 30-30. Keliiloa and Machos then each recorded kills for Towson, giving the Tigers the narrow 32-30 set victory.
The Blue Hens again jumped ahead during the third set, taking an early 6-2 lead on an attack error by Towson’s Dayane Van Ass. Delaware still led 9-6 when Olsen recorded a kill, before the Tigers scored three consecutive points to pull even.
The teams were tied 10-10 two points later, but Towson ran off the next three points and would not trail again. Delaware rallied to tie the set at 14-14, but the Tigers went back in front and eventually built a 21-17 margin on a kill by Buck. Delaware would not get closer than three points from there, while a kill by Van Ass ended the match.
The Blue Hens are back home on Tuesday when they host Morgan State in a non-conference match beginning at 7 p.m. at the Bob Carpenter Center.
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