TOWSON, Md. – The Towson University volleyball team welcomed the Delaware Blue Hens to SECU Arena on Friday night. The Tigers (9-4, 2-1 CAA) fell to the Blue Hens (9-2, 2-1 CAA) in five sets 24-26, 25-18, 20-25, 25-18, 11-15.
Nina Cajic finished with a season-best 19 kills with seven digs and three total blocks, while
Victoria Barrett added 16 kills and eight digs.
Key Stats vs Delaware:
- Delaware had 69 digs compared to 56 for the Tigers.
- The Blue Hens finished with a .294 hitting percentage including a .606 hitting percentage in the third set.
How It Happened vs Delaware:
- The Tigers took a 5-3 lead to start the first set with Nina Cajic's two kills being the difference.
- The teams traded points before the Blue Hens tied the score at seven apiece, then Towson went on a 4-1 run to have an 11-8 edge.
- The Tigers held on to a slim lead, but Delaware took a 17-14 advantage after a 6-1 run.
- Towson quickly regained the lead after a 9-4 run gave the Tigers a 22-20 edge.
- The teams exchanged points until Towson reached set point, then Delaware went on a 4-0 run to win the first set 26-24.
- Towson opened the second set with a 5-3 advantage, but the Blue Hens responded with a 5-1 run to take an 8-6 lead.
- Both teams traded points before Towson went on a 6-1 run to regain the lead led by Victoria Barrett's three kills.
- Towson grew the lead to 20-15 after a 6-2 run by the Black & Gold.
- The teams continued to go back and forth, but Towson finished the second set on a 4-1 run capped off by an Aayinde Smith kill to take the set 25-18.
- The Blue Hens started the third set by scoring the first five points, but the Tigers cut the deficit down to one after a 4-1 run.
- Delaware responded with four straight kills to have a 13-8 edge.
- The teams continued to battle back and forth, then Towson trailed by three after another 4-1 run.
- A 3-1 run led by Lani Mason's two kills gave the Blue Hens the third set 25-20.
- Towson opened the fourth set with a 6-1 run that included five consecutive points.
- The teams traded small runs with the Tigers extending its advantage to six points.
- Both teams continued to exchange points, then Delaware cut its deficit to three, but Towson countered with a 4-1 run led by Cajic's three kills.
- The teams traded points to close out the fourth set 25-18 in favor of the Tigers.
- Delaware jumped out to a 3-1 lead to start the fifth set.
- The teams went back and forth before a 4-1 run gave the Blue Hens an 8-4 advantage as the teams switched sides.
- The Tigers cut the deficit to two after scoring three of the following four points.
- Delaware grew the lead back to four after a Kirah Johnson kill and a Hannah Wright ace.
- Both teams traded points to close out the final set with Delaware winning the fifth set 15-11, snapping Towson's 13-match winning streak.
Inside the Numbers vs Delaware:
- This is Towson's first loss against Delaware at home since 2016 when the Tigers were swept by the Blue Hens.
- Sarah Jordan totaled 34 assists while Maisie Jesse finished with a season-best 17 assists.
- Rachel Hess had a season-high 24 digs.
Up Next:
- The Tigers will rematch the Blue Hens on Sunday at 2 p.m. on FloVolleyball.