Dover, Del. (Sep. 11, 2021) --- The Delaware State volleyball team has claimed the championship of     The Crowne Plaza Albany-Desmond Invitational hosted by Siena College this weekend. The Hornets won the title with another dominating performance, topping St. Francis (Pa.) 3-0 today. The scores were 25-22, 25-23 and 25-14.
The win was DSU's sixth straight, each by 3-0 scores. The Hornets are now a Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference best 10-1 this season, the team's best 11-match start since the program began in 1985.
Delaware State has recorded nine shutouts, won 18 consecutive sets and 31 of 35 sets played this season.
The win over St. Francis also avenged the Hornets' only loss of the season. DSU fell to the Red Flash 3-1 on Sep. 4 in Loretto, Pa.
In today's contest , Alondra Maldonado led the Hornets with a match-high 11 kills, while adding eight blocks. Maldonado was selected as the tournament's Most Outstanding Player after tallying 31 kills and 12 blocks (two solo)  in the three matches.
DSU's Malgorzata Andersohn had 16 assists and eight digs in today's match. She was named to the all-tournament team after combining for 53 assists, eight aces and 35 digs in the tournament.
Jasmal Cruz also earned all-tournament honors after recording 47 digs and three aces in the three contests.
Delaware State posted a season-high 26 blocks in today's match. Sydney Lewis assisted on a match-high nine, while Mayah Ngundam tallied seven.
The in-season tournament crown is Delaware State's first since 2010.
The Hornets return to play with consecutive contests against Binghamton next weekend. The teams will battle at Binghamton on Friday (Sep. 17) and compete at Delaware State's Memorial Hall on Sunday (Sep. 19) at 3:00 p.m.