DOVER, Del. - The Delaware State University volleyball team got out to a quick start, winning the first two sets against Howard University Friday night, but the Bison rallied back to force game five before the Hornets won their home and Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference opener, 25-17, 15-28, 14-25, 16-25, 15-11.
Sophomore Jessica Croucher (Brisbane, Australia) jumpstarted the scoring for DSU in the first set as she recorded three straight aces to give the Hornets a 5-2 lead, followed by a kill from freshman Theresa Schieder (Munich, Germany). The Bison came back to tie things at 9-9, but DSU finished the set on a 4-0 run to take set one.
In the second set, Howard never came within reach of Del State. The Hornets took their largest lead of the set at 18-9 with a kill from senior Elisa Herrmann (Andernach, Germany). Croucher ended HU's chance at a comeback with a kill from senior Sonja Banicevic (Zagreb, Croatia) to take the set, 25-18.
The Bison entered set three rejuvenated and on a mission as they took a quick 11-3 lead over the Hornets. A kill from Gabrielle Martin put HU up, 15-5, and DSU never got things going in the set. The Hornets received a kill from junior Laisha Davis (Riviera Beach, Fla.) coming out of a timeout at 13-23, but two straight HU kills sealed the set for the Bison at 25-14.
Howard posted a .538 attack percentage, including 17 kills, and just three errors in set three compared to just six kills and a .158 attack percentage for the Hornets.
The momentum continued for Howard in set four as they took a 9-5 lead off of seven straight serves from Tosin Elebute. The Bison forced a DSU timeout at 14-8 and points were exchanged for the nearly the rest of the game. HU finished the set on a 4-0 run to win, 25-16. The Bison held Del State to a .111 attack percentage (eight kills/five errors) in the fourth.
The Hornets needed to regain their composure in the fifth set in order to open conference play with a win and just their second of the season. The crowd of 142 strong rallied behind Del State as the Hornets took a 10-7 lead going into a Howard timeout. DSU forced another Howard timeout when an attack error from Stephanie Shultis put the Hornets ahead at 14-10. The Bison scored another point before a kill from sophomore Brooke Redmon (Warrenton, Va.) gave Del State the set and match win at 15-11.
The Hornets held HU to a .038 attack percentage in the fifth set (seven kills/six errors) while hitting .250 (five kills/one error) themselves.
Croucher posted a season-high 14 kills on the night while Fakaosi recorded a season-high 35 assists. Banicevic contributed a team-high 15 digs.
The win puts DSU at 2-11 on the season and 1-0 in the MEAC while the Bison fall to 1-16 and 0-1.
The Hornets continue MEAC play on Tuesday as they travel to Princess Anne, Md. to take on Route 13 rivals in the University of Maryland Eastern Shore at 7 p.m. at the William P. Hytche Athletic Center.
