Dover, Del. (Sep. 5, 2019) --- The Delaware State volleyball team returns to action with another tournament competition this weekend. The Hornets are scheduled to play three matches at the Crosstown Tournament, hosted by Lafayette and Lehigh universities, in Pennsylvania on Fri. (Sep. 6) and Saturday (Sep. 6).
DSU will open the tourney with a 1:00 pm match against Manhattan on Friday in Easton, Pa. The Hornets will face Lafayette at 4:00 pm Friday.
Delaware State will make the short trip to Bethlehem, Pa., to battle Lehigh on Saturday at 12:00 pm.
Lafayette is the only one of its weekend opponents the Hornets faced last season. DSU fell to the Leopards 3-1 in their 2018 meeting.
Delaware State posted a 1-3 record in its season opening competition at the MEAC/SWAC Challenge in Montgomery, Ala., last weekend.
The Hornets picked up their victory against Texas Southern, while falling to Alabama A&M, Jackson State and Alabama State in last weekend's tournament.
Outside hitter Anadys Valentin (fr.) was a bright spot for the team in the opening competition, earning MEAC Rookie-of-the-Week honors after tallying 57 kills and just 15 errors in 148 attempts (.284 hitting pct.), to go along with 44 digs in four matches. She was also credited with seven blocks and six service aces in the tourney.
The Vega Baja, P.R., native recorded two double-doubles in the tournament, collecting a team season-high 20 kills and 14 digs vs. Jackson State; and posting 15 kills, 14 digs and six blocks in the Hornets' 3-1 victory over Texas Southern. Valentin had 14 kills and only two errors on 26 attacks (.462) in her first collegiate contest against Alabama A&M last weekend.
DSU setter Jelena Dukic (jr.), also a 2019 newcomer, averaged 8.8 assists per set (132 total) and tied for team-high honors with seven service aces in the opening four matches, while middle blocker Sydney Lewis (fr.) tallied 22 kills on a team-high .348 attack percentage and also led the Hornets with 15 blocks in her collegiate debut last weekend.
Jasmal Cruz (fr.) is the early team leader with 46 digs, while Mayah Ngundam (jr.) and Ryanne Burnett (fr.) are second and third on the Hornets with 35 and 31 kills, respectively.
