George Washington University Athletics
George Washington University
Kent State
Volleyball Sweeps Kent State, 3-0, in CSU Invitational
9/11/2010 12:00:00 AM | Women's Volleyball
Sept. 11, 2010
CLEVELAND, OH -- In the first-ever meeting between the teams, George Washington swept Kent State, 3-0, Saturday morning in the CSU Invitational. The victory was GW's fourth in its last five outings and is now 1-1 at CSU with a Saturday afternoon match against Morgan State remaining. GW defeated KSU by the scores, 25-14, 25-22, 25-12, in just 72 minutes.
Cleveland State and Morgan State are also in the CSU Invitational field. GW lsot to Cleveland State, 3-0, Friday while Kent State swept Morgan State also Friday at CSU's Woodling Gym.
GW sophomore Lauren Whyte, playing before family and friends from nearby Olmsted Falls, OH, led all players with 16 kills and added 16 digs for 18 points. It was also a homecoming of sorts for GW senior co-captain Katie Zulandt who hails from nearby Chardon, OH. Zulandt hit .409 with 10 kills and three blocks for 12 points. Junior Alex Coward had the best offensive match of her career with a career-high 11 kills in 21 attempts while committing just one error for a .476 attack percentage. She also recorded her career-high eight digs.
The Colonials opened a 9-2 lead to start the match and never trailed in the first set en route to an easy 25-14 victory. Set two was the most competitive of the match featuring three lead changes and seven ties, the last coming at 13-13 before the Colonials went on a 5-1 spurt for an 18-14 behind three kills from Whyte. Kent State rallied to get within one at 23-22 on a kill by Meredith Paskert before consecutive kills from Whyte and Zulandt ended the set, 25-22.
The third set was knotted at 6-6 before GW went on a 12-2 run fueled by four kills from Leah Hill to take a commanding 18-8 lead. After a Whyte kill gave GW match point at 24-12, KSU setter Lauren Jones committed a setting error to give the match to the Colonials, 25-12.
MacKenzie Knox hit .500 on nine kills in 16 swings with three block assists for 10.5 points while setter Katie Crosby assisted on 47 of GW's 54 kills (87%).
The Colonials combined to hit a season-high .336 for the match compared to .135 for the Golden Flashes. Hill matched Whyte with a team-high 16 digs.
Kent State (5-5) was led by Paskert's 11 kills and Liva Brivule's 10 digs. Paskert hit .370 for KSU.
GW (6-3) next plays later Saturday against Morgan State (1-7) at 4:30 p.m. The Colonials have never lost to the Lady Bears and own a 6-0 advantage in the all-time series with Morgan State.
Free live statistical updates of GW matches are available by going to www.GWsports.com and clicking on the Gametracker link.
