NEWARK, Del. - Junior Jessica Croucher (Brisbane, Australia) led the Delaware State University volleyball team with 11 kills, but the University of Delaware was too much too handle as the Hornets were routed, 0-3 (11-25, 23-25, 13-25) in the Route 1 Rivalry Tuesday evening at UD's Bob Carpenter Center.

Croucher finished the night with a .111 attack percentage in addition to four digs and one block.

Sophomore Edarkis Branch (Los Angeles, Calif.) tallied six kills in the loss with seven digs and one block while senior Bel Fakaosi (Salt Lake City, Utah) recorded 22 assists and eight digs.  Senior Laisha Davis (Riviera Beach, Fla.) posted three aces in addition to two kills, one dig and two blocks for the Hornets.

In the first set, Blue Hen Katie Hillman collected three straight service aces to give UD a 7-4 lead.  The Blue Hens followed with a 7-1 run before finishing on a 9-2 run to take the 25-11 victory over DSU.

The Hornets bounced back in the second set, holding a 16-11 lead at one point.  UD would rally and take the lead at 16-18 off of five DSU attack errors.  Consecutive kills from Croucher and fellow junior Brooke Redmon (Warrenton, Va.) brought the Hornets back within one at 23-24 before Delaware took the 23-25 set win.

Delaware State seemed to be lifeless again in the third set, allowing the Blue Hens to take a 10-point run and turn it into a 13-25 set and match victory.

Hillman led UD with 11 kills while Mackenzie Olsen posted 29 assists and Ariel Shonk and Alissa Alker recorded 13 and 11 digs, respectively. 

The Blue Hens (6-11) out blocked the Hornets, 10-3 in the match.

Delaware State (4-10; 1-1 MEAC) returns to MEAC action at Memorial Hall this weekend as they host Morgan State at 7 p.m. Friday and Coppin State at 3 p.m. Sunday.

---DSU WOMEN'S VOLLEYBALL---