2008 Woodie Awards
Head to head: Volleyball dominance will continue
See Greg Arent's opposing argument
by Matt Gallo
Issue date: 10/19/07 Section: Sports
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The Delaware women's volleyball team is enjoying its best season since 1972, as the Hens (20-4, 5-2 CAA) are currently No. 9 in the East Region in this week's RichKern.com/American Volleyball Coaches Association poll.
While the CAA Tournament is still one month away, the volleyball team has shown league opponents what a dominant force they are this year. The Hens lead the CAA in team hitting percentage (.255), kills (1,257), assists (1134), digs (1,479) and aces (163).
The squad has held opponents to a conference-low .142 attack percentage in its seven CAA games this season.
After Delaware lost 3-2 to Hofstra in the conference semifinals last year and 3-0 in the CAA championship game at Towson in 2004, fans are left wondering if this year's Hens will finally capture the CAA crown.
Senior captains Colleen Walsh and Megan Welch have silenced the doubters, leading a Delaware team with two seniors and pulling off convincing wins against Division-I opponents Boston College, South Carolina, Temple and Brown.
Walsh and Welch continue to have standout seasons, as Walsh leads the CAA with 394 kills and Welch has a conference-high 1,127 assists. Their senior leadership has given rise to a talented freshmen and sophomore core, something the 2006 team lacked.
Freshmen Paige Erickson, Greta Gibboney and Katie Dennehy will give the Hens a lift from the bench in the CAA Tournament. Erickson leads this pack of freshmen with 95 blocks, while Dennehy has contributed with 246 kills and 43 digs on the season.
Delaware holds an impressive 7-1 home record and a 7-3 record on the road and have won at the University of Miami Tournament and University of New Orleans Tournament, showing its ability to win in any gym across the country.
The reason the Hens will win the CAA Tournament is shown in their statistics. Delaware averages 16.1 kills per game, outscoring opponents 1,401-1,148. More impressively, the Hens have recorded 174 aces in 24 games, opposed to 115 by their opponents. Delaware's consistent play has led them to a .842 winning percentage, ranking them No. 13 nationally.
The only team that could give Delaware a problem in the CAA Tournament is William & Mary (11-9, 6-1 CAA), who defeated the Hens 3-2 on Oct. 6. In the match, Delaware blew a four-point fifth-set lead, dropping the set 13-15, showing uncharacteristic errors en route to its first conference loss. The Hens travel to William & Mary on Nov. 8 to redeem their loss and prepare for the CAA Tournament.
With Walsh and Welch's storybook careers at Delaware coming to an end, they will stop at nothing to ensure a Delaware CAA championship and a trip to the NCAA Tournament. They will get what they deserve.
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