George Washington University Athletics
George Washington University
Charlotte
Volleyball Shocks Charlotte, 3-2
11/2/2006 12:00:00 AM | Women's Volleyball
Nov. 2, 2006
WASHINGTON, DC -- GW played perhaps its best match of the season in overpowering Charlotte, 3-2, in a classic A-10 battle at Charles E. Smith Athletic Center Thursday night. Led by Juliene McLaughlin's 23.5 points, the Colonials defeated the visiting 49ers by the scores: 30-26, 30-32, 30-23, 27-30, 15-10 in a two-hour, 10-minute marathon that featured 37 ties and nine lead changes. The victory evened the Colonials' A-10 record at 5-5 and gives GW momentum heading into the home stretch of the regular season and a possible berth in the six-team A-10 championship tournament.
McLaughlin slammed a team-high 21 kills while senior Kelly Kabbes scored her career-high 21.5 points and hit .593 on 18 kills in 27 swings with just two errors. Senior setter Kaimana Lee had 55 assists and 12 digs on the evening. Charlotte's Alma Arroyo pounded a match-high 24 kills while 49er setter Eden Ramos assisted on 71 of Charlotte's 78 kills. Libero Carly Romberg led all players with 19 digs.
The teams battled to a 14-14 tie in game one before the Colonials pulled away for the victory. Game two was the most competitive of the match as the teams combined for 13 ties and three lead changes. Tied at 30-30, Charlotte got consecutive kills by Claire Crumpton and Arroyo to take the game, 32-30.
Following the 10-minute intermission, game three was all GW as the Colonials raced to a 7-1 lead and was never threatened. Game four was another classic battle and was tied at 26-26 before another Arroyo kill and a GW attack error preceeded a service ace from Courtney Cowles and a kill by Cori Dayton to end the game.
Game five was deadlocked at 5-5 before GW made its move. The Colonials scored the next four unanswered points to take a 9-5 lead on a kill by Janine Brown. UNCC got a kill from Jessica Oldenburg but GW scored four of the next five points for a 14-7 lead and the match seemed in hand. Charlotte would not give up, however, and scored two points on kills by Oldenburg, Arroyo and Lynae Mulder for their 10th point before Brown ended the match on a kill off a set from Katie Butz.
For the match, GW out-hit UNCC, .287 (71-21-174) to .261 (78-30-184) but it was GW's defense that kept the match in control. GW recorded 13 total blocks compared to nine blocks for the 49ers.
GW (13-10, 5-5 A-10) next travels to the Bronx this Sunday for a key A-10 showdown with Fordham at noon. GW defeated the Rams, 3-1, on Oct. 20 in Washington.
