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Blue Hen varsity teams prepare for fall action 1:44 p.m., Aug. 9, 2006--As the fall semester fast approaches, University of Delaware varsity teams are opening preseason practice in preparation for fall competition. Volleyball and men's soccer are opening practice Wednesday, Aug. 9, while field hockey and women's soccer will begin workouts on Thursday, Aug. 10. The Fightin' Blue Hens football team will open its preseason camp on Friday, Aug. 11. Volleyball Head Coach Bonnie Kenny welcomes back 13 returning players, including seven letter winners, for preseason drills. Leading the squad will be second team All-Colonial Athletic Association outside hitter Colleen Walsh and CAA All-Rookie selection Kelly Gibson. Kenny enters her fifth season at UD and hopes to improve on last season's record of 11-20, which came on the heels of an outstanding 2004 season in which the Hens went 23-9 and reached the conference championship match. The volleyball team will open the season at home, hosting the Delaware Invitational Aug. 25-26 at Barbara Viera Court in the Carpenter Sports Building. Guest teams participating in the tournament are the University of Texas Arlington, Seton Hall University and Marist College. Men's soccer First-year Head Coach Ian Hennessy will welcome back 28 players for pre-season drills. Hennessy, who spent the last four years as an assistant coach at Boston College, takes over the helm of soccer program after Marc Samonisky retired following the 2005 season. He will be hoping to rebuild a program that is looking for its first winning season since 1996 after posting a record of 2-12-4 a year ago. A total of 10 starters return, led by senior Academic All-America Matt Haney on defense. The Hens will open the season by participating in the Towson University Kickoff Tournament, taking on Loyola College at 2 p.m., Friday, Aug. 25, and Adelphia University at 1 p.m., Sunday, Aug. 27. Games will be played at the Towson Center Field. UD's home opener will be at 7 p.m., Tuesday, Sept. 5, against Villanova University at the Delaware Mini-Stadium. Field hockey The field hockey team, under Head Coach Carol Miller, will return approximately 25 players, including 14 letter winners and nine starters. Among the returning players are All-America candidates Amanda Warrington and Katie Evans, All-CAA forward Molly Burke, CAA All-Rookie forward Casey Howard and fourth-year starting goalkeeper Megan Allen. Miller, who led her 2004 team to the CAA championship and a berth in the NCAA tournament, begins her 14th season at UD and 22nd overall. The Hens will open the season by participating in the Champion's Tournament at Duke University on Aug. 26-27. They will face Michigan State University at 11:30 a.m., Saturday, Aug. 26, and will take on either the University of Louisville or Duke on Sunday. UD will return home to Rullo Stadium for the Blue Hen Classic tournament Sept. 2-3. The Hens will face Ohio State University at 11:30 a.m., Saturday, Sept. 2, and Syracuse University at 2:30 p.m., Sunday, Sept. 3. Also participating in the tournament will be the University of Pennsylvania. Women's soccer The women's soccer team, led by Head Coach Scott Grzenda, will open camp with 23 players, including 15 letter winners, expected to return. Among the top returning players are All-CAA defender Lauren Petchel and CAA All-Rookie forward Caitlyn Germain. Grzenda will enter his 16th season as head coach at UD. His 2005 Hens went 10-6-4 and advanced to the CAA championship tournament semifinals. UD will open the season with a game against St. Joseph's University at 7 p.m., Friday, Aug. 25, at the Delaware Mini-Stadium. The Hens will remain at home for a game against Seton Hall University at 1 p.m., Sunday, Aug. 27. |
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