NEWARK, Del. - Senior Sonja Banicevic (Zagreb, Croatia) recorded a game-high 20 digs while junior Bel Fakaosi (Salt Lake City, Utah) collected 20 assists as the Delaware State University volleyball team faltered Tuesday evening by a score of 3-0 (15-25, 14-25, 9-25) to the University of Delaware on Barb Viera Court.

The Hornets never got into a steady rhythm and the Blue Hens took advantage and attacked early to take the win to wrap up Route 1 Rivalry week between the two schools.

In the first set of the evening, kills from sophomores Brooke Redmon (Warrenton, Va.) and Jessica Croucher (Brisbane, Australia) gave DSU a quick 3-2 lead, but that was short-lived as the Blue Hens eventually went up, 16-7, to force a Del State timeout.  Just a few plays later, the Hornets started a mini-rally beginning with a Fakaosi kill to bring the score to 13-22, but the Blue Hens stopped that idea and eventually took the 25-15 win.

Set two started more closely as UD never took a lead larger than three.  With DSU behind, 10-13, the Blue Hens went on a 12-4 run, including nine kills, to take set two, 25-14.

Delaware attacked early and often in the third set, jumping out to a 10-2 lead before consecutive kills from Croucher.  The Hornets came within five at 6-11, but the Blue Hens closed out the game on a 14-3 run.

UD's Katie Hank and Alissa Alker tallied double-digit kills with 16 and 11, respectively, on the night.

With the loss, Del State falls to 1-11 on the season while the Blue Hens improve to 6-9.

The Hornets take 10 days off from competition and with their home and Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference opener on Friday, Sept. 30 as they host Howard University at 7 p.m.