George Washington University Athletics
George Washington University
Rhode Island
Volleyball Roughed Up at Rhode Island, 3-0
11/1/2009 12:00:00 AM | Women's Volleyball
Nov. 1, 2009
KINGSTON, RI -- The GW volleyball team came up short in a 3-0 loss to Rhode Island Sunday afternoon at URI's Keaney Gym. The Rams prevailed by the scores, 25-21, 25-21, 25-19. The Colonials had trouble staying off the net Sunday and committed a season-high six blocking errors to account for some of the problems.
GW senior Katie Butz was the only Colonial in double-figure kills with a match-high 16 and added three blocks for 18 points. Freshman Lauren Whyte added seven kills. Sophomore setter Alyssa Valentine assisted on 33 of GW's 38 kills and added three kills and a pair of aces.
Rhode Island combined for 42 kills, just four better than GW's 38 kills, but the Rams committed five fewer attack errors and four fewer blocking errors. URI also out-blocked GW, 10-7, and served three more aces on the afternoon.
Rhode Island (9-15, 2-9 A-10) played a much stronger match than the Oct. 2 contest at GW when the Colonials won handily, 3-0. URI was led by a pair of Kaylas. The tandem of Kayla Newberg and Kayla Wilson was effective all afternoon for the Rams. Newberg slammed 14 kills with six blocks while hitting .542 while Wilson also had an efficient outing by hitting .400 on nine kills with just one error in 20 swings to go with five blocks.
Newberg set the tone by opening the match with a kill while GW was whistled for its first of the six blocking errors on the afternoon. The first set was tied three times, the last coming at 13-13 on a kill by Wilson. A GW attack error followed and URI scored the next three points to gain enough separation to hold off the Colonials for the 25-21 victory. In the second set, URI clung to a one-point lead at 22-21 before kills from Newberg and Wilson lifted the Rams to a 25-21 win. Set three was the closest of the match early on as the teams traded leads four times and battled to nine ties, the last coming at 11-11. Another Wilson kill sparked an 8-2 run for the Rams as they built a 19-13 lead and coasted to the 25-19 triumph.
GW (19-9, 6-5 A-10) returns to Smith Center Friday to host Duquesne at 7 p.m. followed by the final home match of the season Sunday when Charlotte visits for a 1 p.m. matinee. Sunday's match marks the final home appearances for three seniors, Madelyn Bagby, Butz and Abby Syverson. Both matches will be available via live webstreaming and live stats on Gametracker at www.GWsports.com.
For more news about GW Athletics, visit www.GWsports.com.
