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

Tourney Hopes Evaporate After Weekend Split

The Georgetown volleyball team (15-14, 5-8 Big East) split a road trip this weekend, coming home with one win but hurting its chances of a Big East tournament berth with the loss. On Friday, the Blue and Gray overcame the absence of Head Coach Arlisa Williams, who recently had her second child, to beat Connecticut (5-18, 3-9 Big East) in five sets. Unfortunately, their momentum did not carry over to Sunday’s game against St. John’s in a 3-1 loss.

The Huskies’ struggles this season meant that the pressure was squarely on Georgetown to capitalize on the favorable matchup, and the Blue and Gray delivered, though not without some excitement.

The Hoyas won the first set, then came back from an 18-13 deficit in the second to seize a 2-0 lead. However, Connecticut was able to take advantage of Georgetown’s inconsistent play throughout the third and fourth sets to tie the match at two.

“It was a tough match,” Assistant Coach Jake Lawrence said. “We got up early, and then UConn fought their way back into it.”

But the fifth set was all Georgetown. Senior Kortney Robinson, who finished with a double-double of 19 kills and 12 digs, led the Hoyas to an easy 15-9 win. Senior middle blocker Vanessa Dorismond also notched a double-double with 17 kills and 10 blocks, her second of the season.

Sunday’s match at St. John’s (18-11, 5-7 Big East) did not go quite as well, though. A slow start by the Blue and Gray set the tone for the day against the Red Storm, who cruised to a three-set victory.

“We never really found our rhythm in the first [set],” Lawrence said.

The Hoyas showed signs of life in Sunday’s second set, though, as junior Tory Rezin’s three service aces helped Georgetown to a 25-22 win. However, it would not be enough in the end as the Red Storm took the next two sets to end the match.

“We made a couple of big plays down the stretch,” Lawrence said about the second set. “Being on the road’s tough, but we needed to win both matches.”

Robinson added another 15 kills and 10 digs on Sunday, while Dorismond led the team with a .423 hitting percentage.

The Hoyas needed to sweep the weekend to keep their conference tournament hopes alive. They are now 11th in the Big East with one game left. Should they beat Villanova (16-11, 5-7 Big East) on Friday night – senior night at McDonough Arena – they would likely enter a tie with several other teams for the final spot in the Big East tournament. Georgetown does not own tiebreakers against any of the teams against which it would compete, so Friday will likely be its last match of the season.

The lack of a tournament berth, however, does not mean the Hoyas’ season was unsuccessful. The Hoyas’ 15 wins is the most by a Georgetown volleyball team in seven years, highlighted by a big victory over Big East title contender Marquette.

“We’ve had some good moments this year,” Lawrence said. “But we’re still working our way up.”

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