George Washington University Athletics
George Washington University
Saint Louis
Volleyball Overwhelmed by No. 21 Saint Louis, 3-0
10/9/2009 12:00:00 AM | Women's Volleyball
Oct. 9, 2009
ST. LOUIS, MO -- The George Washington volleyball team lost for only the sixth time this season, three of those to nationally ranked teams, when it fell to No. 21 Saint Louis, 3-0, Friday night in Missouri. It took the Billikens just 68 minutes to dispatch the Colonials by the scores, 25-19, 25-18, 25-17 at SLU's Chaifetz Pavilion. The loss snapped GW's four-match winning streak and was just GW's third setback in its last 13 outings.
GW senior Katie Butz was the only Colonial with double-figure points and kills with 11.5 points on 10 kills to go with three block assists while A-10 co-Rookie of the Week, Lauren Whyte added eight kills in 16 attempts for a team-high .375 hitting percentage. Freshman libero Candace Silva-Martin added a match-high 11 digs and a service ace.
SLU (11-5, 4-0 A-10) was led by Bridget Fonke's match-high 13 kills and 11 digs. She was one of three Billikens with double-figure kills joining teammates Sammi McCloud (11 kills, .526 hitting pct.) and Megan Boken (10 kills). The Billikens, who have never lost at the one-year-old Chaifetz Pavilion (16-0), combined to hit an impressive .451 for the match.
Friday's match featured a total of just three lead changes and nine ties. SLU wasted no time in grabbing the lead in the first set racing out to an 8-3 advantage on a kill from McCloud. The Colonials could get no closer than four down at 11-7 before SLU outscored GW, 14-12 the rest of the way for the 25-19 triumph.
The second set was much closer early on and was knotted at 10-10 before the Billikens pulled away with a 15-8 run to coast to the 25-18 win. Silva-Martin opened the third set with an ace and a Butz kill gave GW a short-lived 2-1 lead but that would be its last lead of the set. SLU's duo of Fonke and McCloud combined for six kills to give the host team an 11-5 advantage and SLU was never threatened after that en route to the 25-17 triumph.
GW (13-6, 3-2 A-10) takes a Saturday flight to Pittsburgh to face Duquesne (12-7, 2-2 A-10) on Sunday at 1 p.m. Duquesne lost at home to Charlotte, 3-2, Friday.
For more news about GW Athletics, visit www.GWsports.com.
