INDIANAPOLIS, IN -- The University of Delaware volleyball team will make its first-ever appearance in the NCAA Tournament on Friday when the Blue Hens travel to St. John's University to take on the Ivy League champion Princeton Tigers at 6 p.m.
Delaware, which captured the Colonial Athletic Association title a week ago, will take its 30-4 to Queens, NY where the Hens will join Princeton, Long Island, and No. 12 seed St. John's in the four-team pod.
The winner of the Delaware - Princeton match will advance to the second round to take on the victor of the Long Island - St. John's contest on Saturday at 8 p.m.
The champion of the four-team grouping will move on to the NCAA Regionals in Gainesville, FL on December 7 and 8.
Princeton, who went 22-3 this season and became the first team in Ivy League history to finish the year 14-0 in conference play, is led by Parker Henritze, who was named the conference’s Player of the Year after posting a team-high 4.60 kills-per-game average.
Bailey Robinson, the Tigers' setter, also leads the nation with a 14.47 assists-per-game mark, while Lindsey Ensign earned first team All-Conference honors after notching a team-high 79 blocks to go along with 392 kills.
"I like that we're not going too far, and we're playing an opponent that we can compete against," said Delaware head coach Bonnie Kenny. "Princeton is a good team. They haven't lost in their last 20 matches and went undefeated in their conference. They are a skilled team that never goes away. We will definitely have to bring our 'A' game."
The Blue Hens are led by senior co-captains Colleen Walsh (above) and Megan Welch. Walsh, the CAA Player of the Year, leads the team with 543 kills, while Welch has a team-best 1,606 assists.
Sophomore libero Stephanie Barry also paces Delaware with 769 digs and 61 aces.
Kelly Gibson, a third team All-Conference pick, is second on the team with 365 digs and fourth with 343 kills. Michelle LaLonde also has a team-high .318 attack percentage, while freshman Paige Erickson leads the Hens with 137 blocks.
Friday's match will mark Delaware's first appearance in a national postseason tournament since 1994 when the Hens participated in the National Invitational Volleyball Championship in Kansas City, MO.
2007 NCAA Division I Volleyball Bracket
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