TOWSON, Md. – The University of Delaware rallied from a 2-0 deficit for a 3-2 win over the Towson University volleyball team on Wednesday night in Colonial Athletic Association (CAA) action. Seniors Aimee Schubert and Haley Pa'akaula posted double-double performances as the Tigers (19-4, 6-3 CAA) and Blue Hens (11-11, 3-6 CAA) split the season series.

THE BASICS
Delaware 3, Towson 2
SECU Arena, Towson, Md.

HOW IT HAPPENED

• Delaware opened up a 10-7 lead in the first set on a kill from Katie Hillman. The Blue Hens extended their lead to 16-12 on a Lauren Talley kill. A block from Talley and Alexa Swann gave the visitors a 21-17 edge in the set. Towson called timeout following that block and coming out of the break went on a 6-3 run to pull to within one, 24-23. Junior Jessica Lewis had a pair of kills during that stretch while sophomore Julymar Otero had a kill and a block. Facing set point following a Delaware timeout, the Tigers got back-to-back kills from Pa'akaula and senior Kyana Miller to take a 25-24 advantage. The Blue Hens called their second timeout and scored three of the next four points to take a 27-26 lead. However kills from freshman Jocelyn Kuilan and Lewis and a service ace from Pa'akaula gave Towson a 29-27 set win.
• Towson hit .283 to Delaware's .265 hitting percentage in the set. Kuilan and Lewis each had five first set kills while redshirt freshman Anna Holehouse posted 11 digs.
• The second set proved to be a back-and-forth battle as the two teams fought through nine ties and five lead changes. Trailing 20-17 in the set Towson called timeout. Following the break, the Tigers used a 4-3 run to pull to within two, 23-21. Schubert had a service ace during that run. Towson called its second timeout and used an attack error by the Blue Hens and a block from junior Lindsay Flaherty and Lewis to tie the set at 23-23. Delaware called timeout before a Lewis kill gave Towson a 24-23 edge. The Blue Hens used their second timeout but a Pa'akaula gave Towson a 25-23 set win and a 2-0 lead in the match.
• Pa'akaula led all players with five kills and added three digs while Schubert contributed eight assists and four digs to take the set.
• The two teams battled through six early ties in the third set. The two squads were knotted at 16-16 before Delaware used a 5-0 run to take a 21-16 lead. Lauren Talley had a pair of kills during that key run. Towson responded with a 6-1 run which tied the set at 22-22. Holehouse had a service ace which tied the set up. The two teams traded points and found themselves tied at 23-23. An attack error by the Tigers and a kill from Daria Robinson gave Delaware a 25-23 set win and sent the match to a fourth set.
• Julia Anderson had nine assists and six digs in the set for the Blue Hens.
• The Tigers and Blue Hens went back-and-forth in the fourth set. Towson pulled to within one, 19-18 following an attack error by the Blue Hens. However, that was the last point scored by the Tigers in the set. Delaware used a 6-0 run to claim a 25-18 set win and forced the match to a fifth set.
• In the fifth set, the Tigers and Blue Hens found themselves tied at 5-5 following a block from Steadman and Pa'akaula. However, Delaware went on a 6-0 run and took an 11-5 lead. Taylor Hollingsworth had a pair of service aces in that run. The Blue Hens closed out the set and claimed victory in the match with a 15-13 set win.

QUOTABLE

• "Prior to tonight's match, we knew Delaware would come out a little differently and I'm not sure the girls respected that decision," said Towson head coach Don Metil. "There was a little bit of fight in us and its unfortunate how it ended because we were fighting back. I've got to give credit because they outhit us and had more digs."

BEYOND THE BOX SCORE

• Holehouse matched her career-high with 30 digs in the contest. It was the second time this season she posted 30 digs against Delaware.
• Pa'akaula and Schubert posted double-double performances in the loss. Pa'akaula had 10 kills and a career-high 22 digs for her third straight double-double and 12th of the season. Pa'akaula has now posted 20 or more digs in both matches against Delaware this season. Schubert had 30 assists and 16 digs for her 10th double-double of the year.
• Lewis had a team-high 16 kills while Kuilan also posted double digit kills with 12.

The Tigers are back in action on Friday, Oct. 23 when they host Elon at 7 p.m. in SECU Arena.
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