George Washington University Athletics
George Washington University
18-7, 8-3 A-10
VCU
14-12, 7-5 A-10
GW Volleyball Topples VCU in Five Sets, 3-2
11/7/2014 12:00:00 AM | Women's Volleyball
WASHINGTON - Senior Kelsey Newman and sophomore Chidima Osuchukwu combined to total 29 kills to lead the George Washington volleyball team to a 3-2, come-from-behind victory over visiting VCU on Friday evening at the Charles E. Smith Center. Set scores were 25-13, 18-25, 22-25, 25-19, 15-12.
GW (18-7, 8-3 A-10) improves to 4-1 in five-set matches this season and has now won three straight while avenging an October 20 loss at VCU (14-12, 7-5 A-10).
The Colonials led wire-to-wire in the first set, hitting a blistering .467 (16k-2e-30a) while limiting the Rams to a .031 (9k-8e-32a) attack percentage, en route to a 25-13 win. The Colonials led by just two points at 13-11 before closing the set on a 12-2 run to take a 1-0 lead in the match.
VCU retaliated in the second set, committing just two attack errors, to tie the match at 1-1 with a 25-18 victory.
The third set featured seven ties and three lead changes before VCU managed to earn a 2-1 lead in the match with a 25-22 win.
GW commenced its rally by opening the fourth set on a 7-4 run to force a VCU timeout. Out of the stoppage the Rams cut the deficit to two points at 11-9, but the Colonials erupted on a 11-3 run to open up a 22-12 lead. VCU attempted a late rally, pulling within five points, but the Colonials clinched the set on a block and a kill by Newman, and a VCU attack error.
The fifth set featured seven ties and three lead changes but the Colonials erased a late deficit to complete the comeback with a 15-12 win. Trailing 10-12, a VCU service error pulled the Colonials within one point and then a kill by Newman knotted the score at 12-12. Junior Maddy Doyle registered one of her career-high four service aces to give the Colonials a 13-12 lead and force VCU to use a timeout.
Out of the stoppage the Colonials forced an attack error to get to match point and a kill by Newman clinched the victory.
Newman tallied 16 kills, seven digs and three blocks (one solo, two assists) while Osuchukwu registered 13 kills on a .250 attack percentage in addition to eight blocks (two solo, six assists).
Junior Jordan Timmer posted her team-best 10th double-double of the season with 43 assists and 10 digs, and she added three block assists and two service aces.
Doyle added 16 digs to her career-high four service aces and sophomore Emily Clemens contributed two service aces and six digs.
GW held statistical advantages in kills (51-45), assists (45-44) and digs (63-52) while posting 14.0 team blocks and nine service aces.
With the win, GW improves to 10-3 at home this season and now owns a record of 36-12 on its home floor under fourth-year head coach Amanda Ault.
The Colonials conclude their home schedule on Saturday evening when they host Atlantic 10 newcomer Davidson at the Smith Center. First serve is scheduled for 7:00 p.m.
