LINCOLN, NE -- The University of Delaware volleyball team remained 9th in the East Region in this week's RichKern.com/American Volleyball Coaches Association poll announced today.

The rankings, which are based on the Rich Kern Percentage Index, include teams from the Atlantic Coast, Big South, and Mid-Eastern Athletic Conferences as well as the Colonial Athletic Association.

It is the third week in a row that the Hens have cracked the top 10 teams in the East Region. Two weeks ago, they were fifth before falling to ninth last week.

Delaware (20-4, 5-2 CAA) split its last two matches, defeating Hofstra, 3-1, on Friday before falling to Northeastern, 3-2, on Sunday afternoon. The team’s win over Hofstra marked the first time the Hens had ever defeated the Pride in Hempstead.

The Hens lead the CAA in team hitting percentage (.250), kills (1401), assists (1267), digs (1682), and aces (174). The squad has also held its opponents to a conference-low .147 attack percentage.

Sophomore libero Steph Barry (at right) continues to lead the conference in both digs (562) and aces (40). Entering last week, she was also second in Division I with a 6.62 digs-per-game average.

Co-captains Colleen Walsh and Megan Welch have also had strong seasons. Walsh leads the CAA with 394 kills, while Welch has a conference-high 1,127 assists.

Michelle LaLonde and Paige Erickson have also had successful seasons. LaLonde leads the league with a .329 hitting percentage. Erickson is third with a .297 mark and leads the Hens with 95 blocks.

Along with Delaware, Hofstra was ranked 5th in the poll, while James Madison, William & Mary, Georgia State, Northeastern, and George Mason remained in the top-20.

Clemson, Duke, Virginia, and Georgia Tech were the top four teams in the poll, all hailing from the Atlantic Coast Conference.

Delaware returns to action on Friday at 7 p.m. when the squad hosts Georgia State.

AGATE:

2007 RichKern.com/AVCA Regional Rankings - East Division (October 16): 1. Clemson; 2. Duke; 3. Virginia; 4. Georgia Tech; 5. Hofstra; 6. North Carolina; 7. Virginia Tech; 8. Florida State; 9. Delaware; 10. Maryland; 11. James Madison; 12. William & Mary; 13. Wake Forest; 14. Liberty; 15. Georgia State; 16. Northeastern; 17. Miami (FL); 18. Boston College; 19. Winthrop; 20. George Mason.