HEMPSTEAD, NY -- Sophomore Kelly Gibson (at right) led four University of Delaware players in double figures for kills with 16 as the Blue Hens advanced in the Colonial Athletic Association Tournament with a 3-0 sweep over Northeastern in the CAA Quarterfinals Friday night at Hofstra University’s Physical Fitness Center.

No. 5 seed Delaware, playing in the CAA Tournament for the first time since advancing to the title game in 2004, won its fourth straight match and improved to 21-8 with the victory as the Hens posted game scores of 30-19, 30-19, 30-24.

The Blue Hens now advance to the semifinals where they will take on host and top seed Hofstra (21-6) Saturday at 2 p.m. No. 4 seed Northeastern ended the season with a record 15-12, including three losses to the Blue Hens. Hofstra, which received a first round bye, has won 10 straight home matches.

Gibson, a first team All-CAA selection, led a balanced effort as she collected a team-high 16 kills and added six digs. Colleen Walsh, a second-team All-CAA pick, added 12 kills while freshman Michelle LaLonde chipped in with 12 kills and redshirt freshman Kelly Matthias added 10 kills and four blocks. LaLonde and Matthias were named CAA All-Rookie selections this season.

Heather Ranck added 19 digs, Clair McCormack recorded four service aces, and CAA assist leader Megan Welch dished out 48 assists to aid the Delaware effort. The Hens posted a .383 hitting percentage for the match, the squad’s fourth highest total of the season. The victory was the 800th in program history for Delaware, which played its first season in 1972.

Northeastern, which hit just .234 for the match and committed eight reception errors, got 14 kills from Ashley Reeves while Whitney Turner added 10 kills, Ivana Pavlisin dished out 19 assists, and Leah Neubeck recorded 16 digs.

“Our offense was awesome tonight,” said Delaware head coach Bonnie Kenny. “Megan(Welch) did a great job with even distribution and that helped our hitting percentage. I thought we were well-prepared and poised the entire night, even when we were behind. It was a well-balanced attack and we managed to maintain that through all three games.”

In the opening game, Delaware broke away from a 8-8 tie with a 9-3 run that put them up for good at 17-11. Gibson recorded eight of her kills in the opening game. In the second game, Delaware rallied from a 12-8 deficit and tied the game with a 4-0 run at 12-12.

After the score was tied at 14-14, a 5-0 put the Hens in control. In the third and deciding game, the Hens trailed 16-14 but followed with a pivotal 11-3 run that gave them the lead for the remainder of the match at 25-19.

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