George Washington University
James Madison
Volleyball Drops Season Opener to JMU, 3-1
8/26/2005 12:00:00 AM | Women's Volleyball
Aug. 26, 2005
HARRISONBURG, VA -- The George Washington volleyball team ran into a balanced James Madison squad that had five different players with double-figure kills as the Dukes overwhelmed the visiting Colonials, 30-25, 30-18, 24-30 and 30-24 Friday night in the season opener for both teams.
Sophomore Janine Brown paced the Colonials with a 15-kill, 14-dig double-double. Senior Shannon Parks was the only other Colonial in double figures with 10 kills. Senior captain Jessica Vesey and junior Juliene McLaughlin added 16 digs each in the two-hour, 10-minute match.
JMU (1-0) had too much firepower, though, and combined to hit .280 as a team with 76 kills led by Hanna Porterfield and Emilee Hussack with 17 kills each.
After dropping the first two games, GW roared back to win game three. GW junior Kelly Kabbes had the most efficient night offensively for the Colonials hitting .500 with eight kills in 14 swings and added three block assists.
As a team, GW hit .158 (50-25-158) with 70 digs. The Colonials managed just one service ace in the entire match and benefitted from 17 JMU service errors.
The match marked the collegiate debut for a pair of GW freshmen. Both Jennie Leftwich (Powhatan, VA/Powhatan) and Maggie Wright (Cortlandt Manor, NY/Hendrick Hudson) appeared in one game.
GW (0-1) next hosts the two-day GW Invitational, Sept. 2-3, at Charles E. Smith Athletic Center. GW faces Iona Friday at 7 p.m. and plays Delaware State Saturday at 2 p.m. before taking on Towson at 7 p.m. Saturday.
