GW won their third straight, improving to 18-7 |
From our friends at GW Athletics...
Newman and Osuchukwu Combine for 29 Kills to Lead Colonials to Third Straight Win
Senior Kelsey Newman and sophomore Chidima Osuchukwu combined to total 29 kills to lead the George Washington volleyball team to a 3-2, come-from-behind victory over visiting VCU on Friday evening at the Charles E. Smith Center. Set scores were 25-13, 18-25, 22-25, 25-19, 15-12.
GW (18-7, 8-3 A-10) improves to 4-1 in five-set matches this season and has now won three straight while avenging an October 20 loss at VCU (14-12, 7-5 A-10).
Kelsey Newman (#15) scored 18 points |
The Colonials led wire-to-wire in the first set, hitting a blistering .467 (16k-2e-30a) while limiting the Rams to a .031 (9k-8e-32a) attack percentage, en route to a 25-13 win. The Colonials led by just two points at 13-11 before closing the set on a 12-2 run to take a 1-0 lead in the match.
Chidima Osuchukwu (13 kills, 18 points) |
VCU retaliated in the second set, committing just two attack errors, to tie the match at 1-1 with a 25-18 victory.
Senior Landon Garvik scored 7.5 points |
The third set featured seven ties and three lead changes before VCU managed to earn a 2-1 lead in the match with a 25-22 win.
Aaliya Davidson (#11) goes airborne, scores 4 points |
GW commenced its rally by opening the fourth set on a 7-4 run to force a VCU timeout. Out of the stoppage the Rams cut the deficit to two points at 11-9, but the Colonials erupted on a 11-3 run to open up a 22-12 lead. VCU attempted a late rally, pulling within five points, but the Colonials clinched the set on a block and a kill by Newman, and a VCU attack error.
Frosh Christina Porada had a nice game |
The fifth set featured seven ties and three lead changes but the Colonials erased a late deficit to complete the comeback with a 15-12 win. Trailing 10-12, a VCU service error pulled the Colonials within one point and then a kill by Newman knotted the score at 12-12. Junior Maddy Doyle registered one of her career-high four service aces to give the Colonials a 13-12 lead and force VCU to use a timeout.
Move over John Isner... Maddie Doyle served up four aces |
Out of the stoppage the Colonials forced an attack error to get to match point and a kill by Newman clinched the victory.
Maggie Skjelbred (#12) scored 8.5 points |
Newman tallied 16 kills, seven digs and three blocks (one solo, two assists) while Osuchukwu registered 13 kills on a .250 attack percentage in addition to eight blocks (two solo, six assists).
Soph Loren Williams added 3 kills |
Junior Jordan Timmer posted her team-best 10th double-double of the season with 43 assists and 10 digs, and she added three block assists and two service aces.
Jordan Trimmer (#18) led all players with 43 assists |
Doyle added 16 digs to her career-high four service aces and sophomore Emily Clemens contributed two service aces and six digs.
Emily Clemens added 6 digs & some clutch serves |
GW held statistical advantages in kills (51-45), assists (45-44) and digs (63-52) while posting 14.0 team blocks and nine service aces.
Natalie Legler (#14) |
With the win, GW improves to 10-3 at home this season and now owns a record of 36-12 on its home floor under fourth-year head coach Amanda Ault.
Coach Ault celebrates another win |
The Colonials conclude their home schedule on Saturday evening when they host Atlantic 10 newcomer Davidson at the Smith Center. First serve is scheduled for 7:00 p.m.
And the award for happiest Colonial goes to... Guess who? |
Click here for last night's box score.