Temple University Athletics
Temple Falls, 3-2, In Tough Match To Delaware
8.28.07 | Women's Volleyball
Aug. 28, 2007
Philadelphia-Yue Liu and Yun Yi Zhang continued to dominate, but it was not enough to overcome a slow start by the Owls and Temple fell 3-2 to the visiting Delaware Blue Hens on Tuesday night in front of an animated McGonigle Hall crowd. Liu posted a double-double with a match-high 27 kills and 11 digs, while Zhang had 17 kills and 13 digs. TU drops to 2-3 on the season, while the Blue Hens stay undefeated with a 4-0 record.
The first two games were rather forgettable for the Owls, as the Blue Hens controlled play and emerged with 30-25 and 30-22 results.
Down two games to none, Temple knew it had to step up its play. The Cherry and White increased their intensity level, thanks to a very loud and enthusiastic student crowd, and went point for point with Delaware, eeking out the 30-28 victory.
In game three, the tide really began to turn and Temple jumped out to a 4-0 lead. Delaware was not down for long however, as the Blue Hens capitalized on some major Owl mental mistakes and tied the game at 12. TU went up 18-13 but Delaware came right back to not only tie the game at 21 but eventually take a 23-21 lead. The teams traded the lead for the remainder of the game but an emphatic spike by Patricia Vernon ended the game with a 30-27 Temple victory.
Eager to finish what they started, Delaware took an early 6-1 lead in game five and never trailed. The Owls fought hard, tying the game at 10, but they never got closer than two points the rest of the way, and the Blue Hens took the fifth set, 15-12.
Ariel Pierre and Sun Ying Ling were also in double figures in digs, earning 13 and 26, respectively. Caitlin Loudon dished a career-high 51 assists.
Next up for Temple is a trip to Charlottesville, Virginia, where the Owls will face off against Norfolk State, Arkansas and Virginia, August 31-September 1.
