NEWARK, DE -- Led by seniors Colleen Walsh and Megan Welch, the top-seeded University of Delaware volleyball team captured its first ever Colonial Athletic Association Championship after defeating No. 3 seed Hofstra, 3-1 (30-19, 30-25, 19-30, 30-16), during the title bout at Viera Court on Sunday night.

With the win, Delaware (30-4) advances to its first ever NCAA Tournament after clinching the CAA’s automatic bid. The first round will take place on November 29-30 at campus sites. Seedings will be announced live on ESPNU next Sunday, November 25, at 8 p.m.

During the championship, the Hens were led by Megan Welch, who was named the Tournament's Most Outstanding Player after recording 105 assists during Delaware's two matches, including 45 against Hofstra in the Championship bout.

Welch was joined on the All-Tournament team by fellow co-captain Colleen Walsh, who led the Hens with 33 kills including 18 against the Pride. Kelly Gibson also earned All-Tournament honors after notching 30 kills, 27 digs, and three aces over the weekend.

During the first game of the match on Sunday, the Hens quickly set the tone after grabbing a 12-9 lead. Up three, Delaware went on a season-best 15-point run led by the strong serving of Welch. Over that stretch, Walsh also made her presence felt, notching two kills and two solo blocks. Paige Erickson also had two blocks during that streak, while Katie Dennehy added a kill and a block.

Although Hofstra answered the Hens’ incredible streak with a five-point run of their own, Delaware eased into a 30-19 victory.

During the second frame, the Blue Hens once again jumped on the Pride quickly, grabbing a 16-9 lead. Hofstra stormed back into the game after notching 12 of the next 16 points to pull within one at 22-21.

Delaware had an answer to Hofstra’s run as the Hens grabbed seven of the next 11 points to take a 29-25 lead. With game point, the Hens' three All-Tournament performers came together to help clinch the set. Gibson fired a hard serve into the Hofstra defense, and after the Pride returned it, Welch hit Walsh with a perfect pass that Colleen quickly deposited for her fifth kill of the game.

Up two games to none, Delaware stumbled a bit in the third set after falling behind 19-12 following the intermission. After a Hen timeout, Delaware scored a single point before Hofstra strung together five straight points to grab a 24-13 lead.

Down 11, the Hens never gave up, but they could not cut into the lead as Hofstra took the third set, 30-19.

In the fourth frame, the two teams battled back-and-forth early with Delaware holding a 6-5 advantage. After the Hens reeled off three straight points, Hofstra called a timeout as the Pride trailed, 9-5.

Following the break in action, the Pride could muster only a single point before the Hens went on a five-point streak to grab a 13-6 lead.

After another Hofstra timeout, Delaware put together two four-point runs, the latter of which extended the Hens’ lead to 27-12. Although the Pride eventually took four of the next six points, Delaware held match-point at 29-16.

With everything on the line, Welch found Katie Dennehy with a pass that the freshman quickly slammed home to capture the game, match, and championship.

Dennehy finished the match with 12 kills and a career-high eight blocks. Delaware’s two middle hitters also had solid performances as Paige Erickson and Michelle LaLonde combined for 15 kills and 12 blocks.

Steph Barry added 14 digs and an ace for the Hens, while Jess Chason also chipped in with eight digs and an assist.

Hofstra (19-12) was led by Amanda Beyersdorff, who notched 13 kills, and Shellane Ogoshi, who had 37 assists and 10 digs. Both players were selected to the All-Tournament team, where they were joined by the three Hens as well as Northeastern’s Britney Brown and James Madison’s Allyson Halls.

For Delaware, it was school’s third ever CAA Championship. The 2004 field hockey team and last year’s men’s lacrosse squad were the only other team’s to finish the season at the top of the conference.

It also marks the Delaware volleyball team’s first league title since the 1994 squad won the North Atlantic Conference championship. Overall, it is the team’s third conference title after also taking the NAC championship in 1992.

Delaware’s 30 wins this season are the most since the 1994 squad went 33-16. Overall, it is the ninth time in program history that the Hens have won 30 matches. Delaware is also just the fourth team in the NCAA this season to reach that mark, trailing only Dayton, Middle Tennessee State, and St. John’s (NY).

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