Hofstra Wins 2012 CAA Volleyball Championship
TOWSON,
Md. (November 18, 2012) - Fourth-seeded Hofstra won the 2012 CAA Volleyball
Championship after knocking off second-seeded Delaware 3-2, Sunday afternoon. The
Pride will receive the CAA's automatic bid into the upcoming NCAA Volleyball
Championship.
Sophomore
outside hitter Kelsie Wills was named the Most Outstanding Player after
recording a double-double with 18 kills and 11 digs. The Pride (21-13, 6-6 CAA)
was also led by senior setter Catalina Charry, who recorded a triple-double
with 10 kills, 29 assists, and 14 digs. Delaware (16-14, 9-3 CAA) was led by
senior outside hitter Alissa Alker who recorded a double-double with 12 kills
and 13 digs.
Delaware
got on the board first with a 25-18 win in the first set. The Blue Hens used a
5-0 run in the middle of the set to give them a 12-7 lead. UD would hold a lead
of at least three points through the entire first frame and finished the set on
a 3-0 run to gain an early advantage in the match. Senior middle
hitter Chelsea Lawrence tallied six kills in the first frame, while the Blue
Hens hit a match-high .296.
Hofstra
would fight back in the following set, and after opening the frame 3-0, used a
5-0 run of their own late in the second set to increase their lead to 17-12. The
Pride would continue the offensive pressure towards the end of the set, and
finished the frame on a 4-0 run to pick up the 25-16 victory, and tie the match
at 1-1. The Pride would increase its hitting percentage from .114 to .226 in
the second set, while the Blue Hens saw their attack clip fall from .296 to
.057. Wills finished with five kills in the set, while senior libero Kylee
Maneja added five digs.
The
Blue Hens came out of the break firing on all cylinders offensively and led
from start to finish in the third set, winning 25-12. Already leading 10-6, UD reeled
off seven straight points to increase its lead to 16-6 in the middle of the
set. The Blue Hens would continue to keep up the offensive pressure and cruised
to the 13 point victory, and increase its lead in the match to 2-1. Delaware
would have only one error in the third frame compared to 12 from Hofstra.
Freshman setter Mackenzie Olsen would finish the set with seven assists.
However,
just as they had done in the semifinals, Hofstra would fight off elimination in
the fourth frame and win the set 25-23. The fourth set was the closest of all the
sets featuring eight ties and five lead changes. The Pride would build up a
13-9 lead in the middle of the set, only to see UD go on a 6-0 run and tie the
set at 14-14. Delaware would ride the momentum and build up a lead of 20-17, as
it looked to be in position to win its third straight CAA title. However,
Hofstra would pick up its intensity and rally to tie the match at 21-21,
forcing a UD timeout. The short break wouldn't stop the momentum for the Pride,
as they would finish the set on a 4-2 run and tie the match at 2-2, forcing the
decisive fifth-set. Wills would add five kills to her total in the fourth set,
while Charry added six assists.
Both
teams fought hard for control at the start of the final frame, with four ties
and four lead changes before the Blue Hens took early 5-4 advantage. After UD
built up a quick two point lead at 7-5, Hofstra would respond with a 5-2 run to
take a 10-8 lead, and force a Delaware timeout. UD would fight back to tie the
score at 10-10, but Hofstra finished the match on a 5-2 run to seal their first
CAA title since 2006 with a 15-12 win in the final set, and a 3-2 match
victory.
Hofstra
will be entering its first NCAA championship since 2006, and will be the first
tournament appearance for head coach Kristina Hernandez.
CAA
All-Championship Team
Danielle Erb,
James Madison
Katy Buck,
Towson
Alissa Alker,
Delaware
Chelsea
Lawrence, Delaware
Catalina
Charry, Hofstra
Kylee Maneja,
Hofstra
Championship Most Outstanding Player
Kelsie Wills,
Hofstra