NEWARK, DE - The University of Delaware volleyball team, which finished its 2006 season with a 21-9 overall record and 11-7 record in conference play, was ranked ninth in the final American Volleyball Coaches Association/Rich Kern Division I East Region rankings. The Blue Hens were also ranked 91st in the nation in the final official Ratings Percentage Index.

Delaware, which finished the 2005 season ranked 197th, improved over 100 spots in just one season. The Colonial Athletic Association was ranked 11th, the highest ever in the conference’s history, which was a major improvement on last year when the conference was ranked as the 17th toughest league.

Hofstra, the team Delaware fell to in five games in the CAA semi-finals, was ranked 35th in the country and Towson was 75th. In the East Region, Hofstra was ranked second, behind Duke. Winthrop, Virginia, and Towson rounded out the top five, followed by Clemson, Florida A&M, Florida State, and Delaware.

The Blue Hens will return their top two leaders in kills, Colleen Walsh and Kelly Gibson (at right), and their leader in assists, Megan Welch. Walsh lead the CAA with 4.77 kills per game and Gibson ranked fourth with 4.32. Gibson also placed ninth in the conference in digs with 4.03 per game. Welch topped the CAA with 13.42 assists per game. Gibson was named first team All-CAA and Walsh was named to the second team.

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