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| Chidima Osuchukwu (#8) led the Colonials with 21 points |
From our friends at GW Athletics...
Colonials Commit Just Two Errors in Final Two Sets to Complete Comeback
Three players finished with double-digit kills as the George Washington volleyball team rallied from a one-set deficit to knock off Rhode Island, 3-2, in its Atlantic 10 opener on Friday night at the Charles E. Smith Center. Set scores were 29-27, 22-25, 18-25, 25-22, 15-5.
GW (10-4, 1-0 A-10), which trailed 1-2 entering the fourth set, swung .369 (20k-3e-46a) across the final two frames to complete its comeback and knock off Rhode Island (9-5, 0-1 A-10) for the second straight meeting following last year's victory in the Atlantic 10 Quarterfinals.
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| Kelsey Newman (#15) celebrates another kill |
The Colonials opened the first set on a 5-1 run and led until the Rams pulled even at 25-25 following a 10-5 run. The teams traded points until a Rhode Island kill put them at set point at 27-26 but GW responded out of a timeout with three straight points to clinch the first set, 29-27.
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| Loren Williams (#7) scored 6 points with 8 digs |
The teams battled through seven ties and six lead changes in the second set before Rhode Island pulled even in the match with a 25-22 victory. The Colonials had trailed 12-15 but were able to pull even at 18-18. Rhode Island responded by going on a set-closing 7-4 run to tie the match at 1-1.
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| Jordan Trimmer (#18) led all players with 44 assists |
Rhode Island remained in control into the third set, tallying 5.0 team blocks and a 14-12 advantage in digs en route to a 25-18 victory to move ahead 2-1 in the match.
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| Maggie Skjelbred (#12) had a huge game (17.5 points, 10 kills) |
GW began its comeback with a dominant fourth set. The Colonials committed just three attack errors and swung .342 in the fourth while the defense posted five blocks and forced eight attack errors. Late in the set the Colonials held a 20-18 lead but three straight points by the Rams gave them a 21-29 advantage. The teams traded points until a deadlock at 22-22 and a timeout by Rhode Island. Out of the stoppage, a URI attack error put GW ahead 23-22 and the Colonials closed out the set with a service ace by junior Jordan Timmer and another attack error to tie the match at 2-2.
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| Serve's up for Natalie Leger (#14) |
GW carried the momentum into the fifth set, sprinting out to a 5-1 lead en route to a 15-5 victory. The Colonials were flawless on the attack in the final frame, tallying four kills in eight attempts while the defense forced nine Rhode Island attack errors and held URI's top attacker, Franki Darnold, to a -.333 attack percentage.
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| Osuchukwu (#8) ties Newman with team-high 16 kills |
Senior Kelsey Newman and sophomore Chidima Osuchukwu each finished with 16 kills apiece to lead the Colonials. Newman swung .325 (16k-3e-40a) and added 14 digs for her sixth double-double of the season. Osuchukwu swung .317 (16k-3e-41a) and added nine blocks (one solo, eight assists).
Junior Maggie Skjelbred also finished in double-figure kills with 10 winners in addition to a career-high four service aces and six blocks (one solo, five assists).
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| Maddy Doyle (#16) led all players with 19 digs |
Junior Maggie Skjelbred also finished in double-figure kills with 10 winners in addition to a career-high four service aces and six blocks (one solo, five assists).
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| Trimmer scores a big block in the first set |
Junior Jordan Timmer dished out 44 assists and added nine digs and six blocks (one solo, five assists) while junior Maddy Doyle led all players with 19 digs and one service ace.
Darnold led all players with 26 kills and 10 digs while Layne Self added 10 kills and two block assists for Rhode Island.
GW returns to action on Saturday night against Fordham at the Smith Center. First serve is scheduled for 7:00 p.m.
Click here for last night's box score.
