George Washington University Athletics
GW Volleyball Opens at Cavalier Classic This Weekend
8/25/2016 12:00:00 AM | Women's Volleyball
| Cavalier Classic - Charlottesville, Virginia | |
| Date | August 26-27 | Tournament Central |
| Location | Memorial Gymnasium | Charlottesville, Va. | Directions |
| GW vs. Northwestern Friday, 2:00 p.m. | |
| GW at Virginia Friday, 7:00 p.m. | |
| GW vs. Buffalo Saturday, 4:00 p.m. | |
| Additional Information | 2016 Season Outlook Get To Know: GW Volleyball's Five Freshmen 2016 Quick Facts & Prospectus2016 Schedule |
BACK IN ACTION:* The George Washington volleyball team returns to the floor for the first time in 2016 at this weekend's Cavalier Classic at the University of Virginia's Memorial Gymnasium. The Colonials will play a doubleheader on Friday against Northwestern (2:00 p.m.) and the host Cavaliers (7:00 p.m.) before concluding the tournament on Saturday against Buffalo at 4:00 p.m.
On Monday the Colonials were picked to finish third in the league standings in the Atlantic 10 Preseason Coaches Poll.
FINAL BOW: Senior middle blocker and two-time AVCA All-East Region selection Chidima Osuchukwu return for their final season in the Buff and Blue on the fast track to what has become one of the most decorated careers in the history of GW Volleyball.
Just the third All-America selection in program history after earning Honorable Mention status as a sophomore, Osuchukwu is coming off her best season at GW. She ranked ninth in the nation and led the Atlantic 10 in both total blocks (168) and blocks per set (1.51). She also became the 13th player in team history to surpass 1,000 digs with her team-leading 416 winners last season. The Virginia Beach, Virginia, native also made history last season when she was a conference-record six-time Atlantic 10 Player of the Week.
CLARK RETURNS: The reigning Atlantic 10 Co-Rookie of the Year, sophomore Kelsey Clark returns for her second season after a breakout freshman campaign. Clark finished second on the team last season with 288 total kills and proved to be a force on the block with 44.0 total rejections.
NEW FACES: GW has welcomed five freshmen student-athletes into the fold for the 2016 season. Madison Clay, Skylar Iott, Jaimeson Lee, Reilley Wehrstein and Jordan Young will each provide immediate depth on the floor beginning in the opening weekend. The quintet was introduced in a #GetToKnow video series on RaiseHigh TV.
CENTURY MARK: Sixth-year head coach Amanda Ault has engineered a trio of 20-win seasons and four postseason trips during her tenure at the helm of the program. She enters the season just 11 wins shy of 100 for her career.
SCOUTING NORTHWESTERN: Northwestern opens the 2016 season under the direction of first-year head coach Shane Davis. The Wildcats finished 14-17 overall in 2015.
Junior Symone Abbott is the top threat on the attack for the Wildcats after racking up 387 kills last season (3.82/set). Taylor Tashima facilitates the offense from the setter position, having already cleared the 2,000-assist mark in just two seasons.
GW and Northwestern have only faced each other twice, with the Wildcats winning both meetings.
SCOUTING VIRGINIA: The Cavaliers return nine letterwinners from the 2015 squad that went 18-13 overall, their third straight winning season under head coach Dennis Hohenshelt.
Senior outside hitter Haley Kole was selected to the Preseason All-ACC team after totaling 348 kills (3.00/set) and 231 digs last year. She also finished with five double-doubles.
Friday's match marks the 17th time the Colonials will face the Cavaliers. GW has won the last three meetings and leads the all-time series 11-5.
