Top-seeded Towson continued its dominant run in CAA Volleyball, defeating third-seeded Delaware in straight sets (25-15, 25-21, 25-22) to win its fourth consecutive CAA title Saturday evening on its home court at SECU Arena. The Tigers are the third program in league history to win four straight titles, but the first since George Mason won five from 1992-96.

Towson moves to 29-1 this season and earns the conference’s automatic qualifying bid to the NCAA Tournament. Delaware concludes its season 17-11 after the setback. 

Big-time players are made in big-time moments, and no player was bigger than Towson sophomore outside hitter Victoria Barrett, the CAA Tournament Most Outstanding Performer. Barrett matched a season-high with 16 kills, committing just three errors and hit .500 in the championship match. Barrett totaled 47 kills (4.70 per set) on a .380 hitting percentage for the tournament adding 30 digs (3.00 per set). 

Towson rolled to a set one victory 25-15 thanks to seven kills from Barrett on eight swings as she hit .875 for the frame. Tied at two, the Tigers rallied off a 5-1 run to gain a 7-3 lead. After a Delaware timeout to break the run, Towson proceeded with another 5-1 spurt, taking a 9-4 advantage. The Tigers broke open the set, leading 13-9 as a Nina Cajic kill prompted a 6-1 run, giving Towson a 19-10 advantage before cruising to a one-set lead in the match. 

The Tigers didn’t flinch in the second, winning the frame 25-21. Delaware took two of the first three points in the set before Towson went on a 5-0 run, taking command after three straight attacking errors by the Blue Hens. Later in the frame, up 17-14, Towson created separation with a 4-0 spurt, gaining a 21-14 lead, and claimed a two-set advantage in the match. Cajic was the catalyst of the second run after Barrett initiated the first with kills. 

With the pressure on, Delaware battled but was unable to match the firepower of the Tigers, as Towson won the third frame 25-22 en route to a straight-set victory. It was blow-for-blow to 20 before a Lydia Wiers kill sparked a 4-0 spurt, putting the Tigers up 24-20. Delaware took two points back before a ball handling error ended the match in favor of the Tigers. 

Barrett was joined on the all-tournament team by Cajic and Aayinde Smith. Cajic added 11 kills without an error, hitting .579 in the final, while Smith tallied 16 blocks (1.60 per set) throughout the championship to lead a stout Towson blocking unit.  

Lani Mason paced Delaware with her third double-double in the tournament, recording 11 kills with 10 digs, and earned all-tournament team honors for the Blue Hens. She was accompanied by Ezgi Basaranlar on the all-tournament team, who averaged 9.38 assists per set throughout the championship, and added 25 assists in the final. 

Towson hit .350 for the match while limiting Delaware to a .233 hitting percentage. The Tigers also edged the Blue Hens in kills (49-30), assists (44-29), service aces (8-3) and digs (39-32), while each team recorded three blocks.