The UD women's volleyball team traveled to Minnesota for the team's last tournament before Atlantic-10 Conference matches begin.

The Flyers faced Tulane, Connecticut and Minnesota in the Diet Coke Classic last weekend. Upon the conclusion of the tournament, UD won two matches and lost the final match of the weekend to come back finish with a 9-5 record.

UD started the tournament against Tulane. In the first match, UD carried the lead the entire time after the third play, winning 30-16. The trend continued into the second match as the Flyers outplayed the Green Wave, 30-21.

Tulane bounced back in the third match and grabbed an early lead. UD responded as sophomore Kortney Norris tied the game 17-17 off a kill from junior Adrienne Green. The Flyers grabbed a slight lead, but Tulane responded, bringing the score to 21-21. Play continued as UD again pulled ahead, Tulane, however, was able to tie the score off a UD attack error. The Flyers fought hard but Tulane closed out the match 30-28.

UD came back in the fourth game much like the first two. The Flyers grabbed the lead and where up by as much as 11 points. The game ended from a kill by junior Jamie-Lee Richards as the Flyers closed the match 30-22.

Redshirt sophomore Erin Schroeder lead both teams with 44 assists as sophomore Bethany Akerhielm lead the team with 15 kills for the night.

The second game of the weekend pitted Dayton against Connecticut. Senior Faye Barhorst lead all players as UD finished a 3-1 win against the Huskies. In a season best and game leading 22 kills the senior also led the team in blocks with eight.

UD opened the match with the first win, 30-26, that saw six ties and three lead changes. The Flyers dropped the second game in a close 30-27 score. The Flyers shined in the third game, never relinquishing the lead in a 30-21 win as redshirt freshman Chauntay Mickens grabbed the game winning point off an assist by Schroeder. The last game of the match ended with a Flyer win, 30-25, as Richards and sophomore Nicole Bateman closed out the night with 13 and 11 blocks, respectively.

As 4,705 fans crowded the Sports Pavilion for the final match, UD was set to play Minnesota for their second match Saturday. The Golden Gophers had already swept both Tulane and UConn, 3-0.

Unfortunately, Minnesota continued their sweep of 12 matches during the Diet Coke Classic by beating the Flyers, 3-0.

Even off of 29 assists and 12 digs from Schroeder, UD was unable to overcome the offense of Minnesota, falling in three games, 30-18, 30-24 and 30-20.

'The big things we are working on now are our confidence and competitiveness,' UD Coach Tim Horsmon said after reflecting on the team's unsatisfactory results.

At the close of the tournament, both Schroeder and Barhorst were named to the All-Diet Coke Classic team as Minnesota also had two players earn two team spots. One player from both Tulane and Connecticut were chosen. Minnesota senior Malama Peniata was picked as the tournament MVP.

'The weekend was an eye-opener for the team that wins will not just be handed to us,' said Mickens. 'After the loss to Minnesota, the team has begun to refocus and we are all keeping our eyes on the prize.'

The Flyers will now bring their focus to A-10 play with the prize being that A-10 title. The three-time defending A-10 Champions, UD will look to continue its tradition of outstanding volleyball.

'We are more concerned now with taking care of our side of the net,' Coach Horsmon said about his team's preparation for the upcoming conference games. 'We want to play as tough and competitive as we can.'

'All the other teams in our conference are out to get us right now so we need to be prepared for whatever comes our way,' Mickens said.

The Flyers travel to meet their first A-10 opponent, George Washington, today. UD's first home A-10 match will be against Xavier Friday, Sept. 29 at 7 p.m.