George Washington University Athletics
GW Volleyball Travels to Crossroads of America Classic
9/18/2014 12:00:00 AM | Women's Volleyball
GW vs. Sacramento State | Friday - 5:30 p.m. ET | Live Stats
GW vs. Murray State | Saturday - 11:00 a.m. ET | Live Stats
GW at Valparaiso | Saturday - 8:00 p.m. ET | Live Stats | Free Live Video
WASHINGTON - The George Washington volleyball team will conclude its non-conference tournament schedule with three matches over two days at the Valparaiso Crossroads of America Classic this weekend at the Athletics Recreation Center in Valparaiso, Indiana.The Colonials will open the tournament on Friday afternoon against Sacramento State (5:30 p.m. ET) before a Saturday doubleheader against Murray State (11:00 a.m. ET) and the host Crusaders (8:00 p.m. ET).
GW (7-3) is coming off its best performance of the season in a 3-0 sweep of Georgetown on Tuesday evening. The Colonials tallied a season-high eight service aces while holding a 2-to-1 advantage in a number of categories including kills, digs and blocks.
The Colonials entered the week with a number of top-10 national rankings including assists per set (5th, 13.93), digs per set (6th, 18.10), kills per set (5th, 14.93) and attacks per set (4th, 39.67). GW leads the Atlantic 10 in all of the aforementioned categories in addition to blocks per set (2.68).
Senior Kelsey Newman, junior Jordan Timmer, sophomore Chidima Osuchukwu and junior Maddy Doyle each lead the Atlantic 10 in individual statistical categories entering this weekend's matches.
Newman ranks first with 4.68 kills per set. The Charlotte, N.C., native has posted a total of 131 winners this season and ranks second on the team with four double-doubles.
Timmer entered the week ranked 10th in Division I and leading the conference with 12.96 assists per set. She has totaled 350 assists and leads the Colonials with six double-doubles this season.
Osuchukwu's 1.53 blocks per set leads the Atlantic 10 while her 46 total blocks is tied for second overall. She also sits in second place with nine solo rejections.
Doyle has been the backbone of GW's defense, averaging 5.37 digs per set to pace the conference.
GW has only faced Murray State among this weekend's opponents, defeating the Racers during the 1992 season.
Sacramento State carries a 4-8 record into this weekend's tournament with wins over San Jose State, Bakersfield, ETSU and Charlotte. Sloan Lovett (121 kills) and Madeline Cannon (101 kills) pace the Racers' attack while Kennedy Kurtz facilitates the offense (425 assists).
Murray State is a perfect 9-0 on the season, most recently winning three matches at the Chattanooga Classic. Taylor Olden leads the team with 97 kills while Ellie Lorenz has tallied 126 digs.
Valparaiso is 10-1 on the season and carries a nine-match win streak into the tournament. Emily Campbell is the main offensive threat for the Crusaders with 157 kills on the season and a .305 attack percentage.
