Georgetown University’s Newspaper of Record since 1920

The Hoya

Georgetown University’s Newspaper of Record since 1920

The Hoya

Georgetown University’s Newspaper of Record since 1920

The Hoya

League Losses Pile Up for Georgetown

The Georgetown women’s volleyball team (11-11, 1-5 Big East) will certainly try to learn from its mistakes while not dwelling on the past. After a difficult weekend featuring two losses, the Hoyas now look ahead to their Big East road trip. Head Coach Arlisa Williams knows that her team can win as long as her players believe in their abilities.

“We just have to believe that we are capable of winning and we will be successful,” Williams said.

On Friday, Georgetown fell in straight sets to Pittsburgh (10-5, 5-1 Big East). Sunday, things got only marginally better for the Hoyas as they dropped a thrilling five-set match to West Virginia (12-9, 2-4 Big East).

Georgetown vs. Pittsburgh

The Hoyas welcomed their largest crowd of the season for Dig Pink! Breast Cancer Awareness Night on Friday. In front of the large crowd, freshman middle blocker Lindsey Wise had a very impressive performance. Wise led the Hoyas with 11 kills and a .444 hitting efficiency.

The Panthers dominated the first set. The Blue and Gray were in the set until 5-6, at which point Pittsburgh went on a 19-4 run to take the set 25-9 as the Panthers’ .526 hitting efficiency was too much for the Hoyas to handle.

Pittsburgh used another major run to take the second set. Although Georgetown quickly went ahead 2-0, the Panthers won 14 of the next 15 points. Following a timeout, the Hoyas cut the Pittsburgh lead to seven points, but ultimately the lackadaisical start and 14 attack errors allowed the Panthers to claim the set 25-15.

In the third set, Georgetown put up its best fight of the match. The lead changed hands five times in the set, and the Hoyas led 15-14 after a kill by junior middle blocker Vanessa Dorismond.

Unfortunately for the Blue and Gray, Pittsburgh took the next four points, and claimed a lead they would not relinquish en route to a 25-18 win in the clinching set. Wise had 6 of her 11 kills in this final set.

“We had a rough weekend,” Williams said. “Pittsburgh is a very good team.”

Georgetown vs. West Virginia.

Coming off the loss to Pittsburgh, Georgetown looked for a bounce-back against West Virginia on Sunday, and after a fast start, things looked promising for the Hoyas.

“We came out like gangbusters against West Virginia,” Williams said.

The Blue and Gray immediately took control of the first set with a kill by Dorismond. The Hoyas were able to maintain this lead, and hit .320 in the process of winning the set 25-16. Dorismond recorded four kills and sophomore setter Ashley Malone had 11 assists.

The Mountaineers answered the Hoyas’ first set victory with a winning effort of their own. West Virginia grabbed the first point of the set and would not relinquish that lead on the way winning the set 25-20.

The third set told a similar story, as the Mountaineers took advantage of an early lead to take a 2-1 advantage in sets. During the third set, West Virginia hit a match-high .433 and won 25-18 despite Malone’s 12 assists and sophomore outside hitter Sara Manley’s five kills.

Georgetown evened the score with a fine effort in the fourth set. The Hoyas held the Mountaineers to a .000 hitting efficiency and notched a 25-18 set win. Sophomore libero Tory Rezin was outstanding in compiling six digs.

In the decisive fifth set, the Hoyas took the lead with an early 7-1 run. West Virginia, rallied with a 7-1 run of their own to tie the game at 8. A Wise kill and double-block by Wise and junior outside hitter Kortney Robinson gave the Hoyas a two-point advantage. The Mountaineers then responded with a 5-1 streak and eventually won the set and the match 15-13.

“West Virginia stepped up their game a bit and we couldn’t respond,” Williams said.

Georgetown begins a four-game Big East road trip today. They will face several strong Big East opponents in Marquette, Syracuse, South Florida and Villanova. Even though the Blue and Gray have dropped three straight to run their record to 1-5, they remain confident.

“Tactically and technically our team is solid,” Williams said. “Blocker for blocker, passer for passer, we are very good.”

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