The Fightin’ Blue Hens volleyball team had an outstanding 2007 season, reaching 30 victories and winning the Colonial Athletic Association championship and the conference’s automatic berth in the NCAA Division I championship tournament.

The Hens took the conference title with a 3-1 victory over Hofstra University on Nov. 18 at UD’s Barbara Viera Court. They advanced to the championship match with a 3-1 victory over James Madison in the tournament semifinals.

UD went on to defeat Princeton 3-1 in the first round of the NCAA tournament before falling 3-1 to St. John’s.

Senior Megan Welch was named the CAA tournament’s outstanding player, recording 105 assists, including 45 against Hofstra in the championship match. She was joined on the all-tournament team by fellow senior Colleen Walsh and junior Kelly Gibson.

Walsh was named the CAA player of the year, Welch was named the setter of the year, and sophomore Stephanie Barry was named the defensive specialist of the year.

UD’s Bonnie Kenny was named the CAA coach of the year. During the regular season, Kenny won her 100th career victory since being named head coach of the Hens.

This is the ninth time in program history that the Hens have won 30 matches and the first since the 1994 team went 33-16. Delaware is one of just four teams in NCAA Division I to reach that mark this season.