Montgomery, Al. (Sep. 1, 2019) --- The Delaware State volleyball team tipped off its 2019 season with one win in four contests at the MEAC/SWAC Challenge this weekend.
The Hornets opened the tourney with losses to Alabama A&M (0-3) and Jackson State (1-3) on Friday. DSU recorded its lone tourney win on Saturday, topping Texas Southern 3-1, and closed out the competition with a 3-1 loss to host Alabama State later in the day.
In the victory over Texas Southern, Delaware won the first two sets 25-18 and 25-6. TSU stayed alive in the match with a marathon 28-26 victory in the third set.
The Hornets sealed the match win with a 25-18 victory in set four.
Anadys Valentin (fr.) led all players with 15 kills and contributed 14 digs to the win.
Mayah Ngundam (jr.) tallied 12 kills, while Jasmal Cruz (fr.) had a match –high 20 digs.
DSU recorded 13 service aces in the Texas Southern contest, including four each Sydney Armbrister (gr.) and Nia Scott (so.).
The Hornets posted a .192 hitting percentage in the match, tallying 44 kills and 19 errors in 130 attacks.
In the season opening match against Alabama A&M, Valentin had a match-high 14 kills with just two errors on 26 attempts for a .462 attack percentage.
Delaware State won the first set in the Jackson State contest (25-20), but the Tigers bounced back to take the next three sets (25-23, 25-22, 25-22) for the match win.
Valentin recorded a double-double with a season-high 20 kills (.349 pct.) to go along with 14 digs. Ryanne Burnett added 13 kills and nine digs for the Hornets in the Jackson State match.
Delaware State also took the first set vs. Alabama State 25-18, but dropped the last three (24-26, 11-25, 22-25).
Ngundam led DSU with 13 kills and Burnett added 10 in the Alabama State contest. Cruz led the Hornets with 11 digs and Valentin added 10. Jelena Dukic topped all players with 28 assists in the match.
Valentin is off to an impressive start to her college career, tallying 57 kills (.284 pct.) and 44 digs in the four tournament matches.
Delaware State returns to action with at the Lehigh/Lafayette Tournament this weekend. The Hornets will face Manhattan (1:00 pm) and Lafayette (4:00 pm) on Friday, and close out the tourney Lehigh on Saturday at 12:00 pm).
