Tribe Snaps Delaware’s Nine-Match Winning Streak with a 3-2 Victory

10/06/07 10:15PM

Newark, Del. - The William and Mary volleyball team snapped Delaware’s nine-match winning streak with a 3-2 (30-27, 30-26, 19-30, 23-30, 15-13) triumph on Saturday evening in Newark, Del. With the victory, the Tribe (9-9, 4-1) moves into a tie for first place in the Colonial Athletic Association standings and has won five of its last six matches.

Junior Jill Nowadly totaled a career-high 32 digs for W&M, while freshman Erin Skipper earned a double-double with 20 kills and 19 digs. Junior Molly Bohman also came up big with 17 kills, and sophomore Lindsey Pflugner provided 21 digs.

The College utilized a 7-1 run early in the initial game to jump out to an 11-4 lead. While the Tribe extended the margin to as many as 10 points on multiple occasions, the Blue Hens (19-3, 4-1) charged back with an 8-0 run to narrow the gap to just two, 22-20. Although UD drew within one, 26-25, the Green and Gold held on and sealed the frame with a put-away by Bohman. Skipper had eight kills in the opening set, while Nowadly provided 10 digs.

W&M built a five-point lead, 13-8, midway through the second game following a kill by sophomore Lauren Powell. However, Delaware chipped away at the advantage and used a 4-0 spurt to take a 19-17 lead. With the score knotted at 26-26 late, the Tribe closed out the set with four straight points.

Although the score was close early in the third frame, the Blue Hens gradually built a six-point lead, 17-11. While the Tribe cut the advantage to three, 18-15, shortly thereafter, UD responded with an 8-2 run en route to winning the game.

Delaware continued its strong play in the fourth game and took an 18-9 lead. The Tribe charged back with a 7-0 run, punctuated with a kill by Powell, to narrow the lead to two. Although the College remained close, Delaware pulled away down the stretch and sent the match to a fifth game.

While the Blue Hens seemed to be in control of the final set after taking a 7-3 advantage, the Green and Gold rallied back with three straight points. Although UD briefly held a three-point lead, 9-6, neither team was able to take a significant advantage. With the scored tied at 13-13, W&M recorded two straight points – a Pflugner kill and a Delaware attack error – to claim the game and the match.

The Tribe will return to action again next weekend when it hosts Georgia State and UNC Wilmington.

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