2008 Woodie Awards
Volleyball team confident heading into CAA Tournament
by Matt Hoffman
Issue date: 11/16/07 Section: Sports
The Hens volleyball team has earned a bye in the first round of the Colonial Athletic Association playoffs and will play its match Saturday at 5 p.m. against the winner of William & Mary and James Madison.
This is a record-setting year for the Hens becoming only the third Delaware team in history to hold the top seed in the CAA postseason. It is the volleyball team's first top seed, matching the mark set by the 2004-05 women's basketball team and the 2005 men's lacrosse team. Since the Hens are the No. 1 seed, they will host the tournament.
Not only did the team set a university record, but so did key players on its roster, who have had outstanding seasons. Senior co-captain Colleen Walsh leads the CAA in kills with 510.
She is the third player in Delaware history to compile more than 500 kills in a single season and the first to do it twice after accumulating 558 kills last year. Walsh said her individual records are unimportant and at first, she was unaware of the record she set.
"I wasn't even thinking about records," she said. "It all depends on if the team is winning. Getting kills is just a plus."
Senior co-captain Megan Welch also had a record-breaking year, becoming the second player in Delaware history to reach 4,000 career assists. Welch ranks second behind Nikki Brassell, who recorded 4,538 assists when she played for the Hens from 1992-95. Welch said she was glad to learn she reached the 4,000 assist mark, but gives all of the credit to her teammates.
"It's exciting, but it wouldn't have been possible without an amazing team," Welch said. "We have awesome hitters around me and I'm thankful for that."
Sophomore Stephanie Barry also got in on the record-setting trend, becoming the fastest Hen to reach 1,000 digs. She reached the mark in her 61st career match, shattering the previous record of 81 matches, which was held by Joanna Dusza.
Head coach Bonnie Kenny said the championship should be won by Delaware, with the ability to assist, kill and dig its way to victory.
This is a record-setting year for the Hens becoming only the third Delaware team in history to hold the top seed in the CAA postseason. It is the volleyball team's first top seed, matching the mark set by the 2004-05 women's basketball team and the 2005 men's lacrosse team. Since the Hens are the No. 1 seed, they will host the tournament.
Not only did the team set a university record, but so did key players on its roster, who have had outstanding seasons. Senior co-captain Colleen Walsh leads the CAA in kills with 510.
She is the third player in Delaware history to compile more than 500 kills in a single season and the first to do it twice after accumulating 558 kills last year. Walsh said her individual records are unimportant and at first, she was unaware of the record she set.
"I wasn't even thinking about records," she said. "It all depends on if the team is winning. Getting kills is just a plus."
Senior co-captain Megan Welch also had a record-breaking year, becoming the second player in Delaware history to reach 4,000 career assists. Welch ranks second behind Nikki Brassell, who recorded 4,538 assists when she played for the Hens from 1992-95. Welch said she was glad to learn she reached the 4,000 assist mark, but gives all of the credit to her teammates.
"It's exciting, but it wouldn't have been possible without an amazing team," Welch said. "We have awesome hitters around me and I'm thankful for that."
Sophomore Stephanie Barry also got in on the record-setting trend, becoming the fastest Hen to reach 1,000 digs. She reached the mark in her 61st career match, shattering the previous record of 81 matches, which was held by Joanna Dusza.
Head coach Bonnie Kenny said the championship should be won by Delaware, with the ability to assist, kill and dig its way to victory.
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