VOLLEYBALL SEASON ENDS AS JMU FALLS AT DELAWARE 3-1

Saturday, November 17

Newark, Del.

5 p.m.

James Madison University

17-13

Delaware

29-4

James Madison

Delaware

11/17/2007 5:00:00 AM | Volleyball

Box Score

NEWARK, Del., Nov. 17, 2007 ? Junior Kelly Gibson had a team-high 19 kills to lead the top-seeded University of Delaware to a 3-1 win over fifth-seeded James Madison University on Saturday evening in the semifinals of the Colonial Athletic Association women's volleyball tournament on Delaware's Viera Court.

UD (29-4) topped JMU (17-13) by game scores of 30-10, 30-28, 26-30, and 30-24. The Blue Hens won their ninth in a row and advance to Sunday's championship match at 5 p.m. against the winner of the second match between second-seeded Northeastern and third-seeded Hofstra.

JMU senior libero Jena Pierson (San Antonio, Texas/James Madison) matched her career high in the final game of her career with 40 digs. She finished the season with 698 digs to break a JMU season record. Her 6.40 digs per game for the season also stands as a JMU record. She upped her CAA career record for digs to 2,189.

Senior middle blocker Allyson Halls (Columbus, Ohio/Olentangy) had 18 kills, three aces, four digs, and three blocks. She became just the third JMU player to top 1,300 career kills, finishing with 1,305. Halls also moved into third for kills in a season with 486 and her 4.42 kills per game ranks third.

Junior setter Lauren Miles (Tampa, Fla./Tampa Prep) accumulated 45 assists, four kills, and four digs. She moved into third place on the career assists chart with 3,019, passing Christina Gianino (1996-99) with 2,993. Miles also broke the JMU season assists record with 1,380, topping the 1,376 that Gianino posted in 1999.

Gibson finished with 19 kills and 13 digs for the only double-double of the match. Freshman Katie Dennehy had 17 kills and hit .308 with four blocks. CAA Player of the Year Colleen Walsh, a senior, had 15 kills and seven digs. Senior Megan Welch distributed 60 assists with nine digs. Sophomore Stephanie Barry and freshman Greta Gibboney collected 21 and 10 digs respectively.

Delaware dominated game one as the Blue Hens hit .324 while JMU hit -.179. The Dukes actually held an early lead at 5-4 before the Blue Hens went