George Washington University Athletics
George Washington University
5-3
Idaho
3-4
| Team | 1 | 2 | 3 | Final F |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| George Washington | 32 | 25 | 25 | 3 |
| Idaho | 30 | 19 | 21 | 0 |
GW Volleyball Splits on First Day of Cougar Classic
9/10/2016 12:00:00 AM | Women's Volleyball
GW 3, Idaho 0 | Washington State 3, GW 0
PULLMAN, Wash. - The George Washington volleyball team opened play in its penultimate non-conference tournament of the season on Friday, splitting a pair of matches at the Cougar Classic at Bohler Gym. The Colonials swept Idaho in the first match of the day before falling in the nightcap to host Washington State, 3-0.
GW opened the tournament with a 32-30, 25-19, 25-21 sweep over Idaho in the first match, using a season-high .291 (48k-16e-110a) attack percentage to thwart the Vandals.
The first set was the closest of the match as the Colonials outlasted Idaho across 15 ties and four lead changes to emerge with a 32-30 win.
A 5-2 spurt by GW turned a one-point lead into a 22-17 advantage late in the set and the Colonials were serving for set point at 24-21 before Idaho scored four straight points to pull ahead, 25-24.
After a timeout, GW responded with consecutive points on a kill by senior Chidima Osuchukwu and a ball-handling error, to once again serve for set point. Idaho tied the match once more and the teams traded points until a 30-30 deadlock. A service error put the Colonials ahead by one and a kill by senior Loren Williams clinched the set.
GW hit a match-best .370 in the second set with just two attack errors en route to a 25-19 win and a commanding 2-0 lead in the match. The Colonials were in control early, playing out to an 18-11 lead, but Idaho would not go quietly and pulled within four points of the lead at 23-19. A kill by Williams put the Colonials at set point and a service ace from junior Kristel Moor clinched the frame.
The third set was a back-and-forth affair with 14 ties and four lead changes, but a late run by the Colonials created enough separation to clinch the win. Tied at 18-18 late in the set, GW unleashed a 6-1 run to move to match point at 24-19. Idaho got back-to-back blocks to stave off match point but a kill by junior Aaliya Davidson finalized the result in favor of the Colonials.
Osuchukwu swung .350 in the match with a team-high 11 kills in addition to three blocks (one solo, two assists). Moor contributed nine kills on a .286 attack percentage with three block assists. Williams added eight kills and sophomore Alexis Lete totaled a career-high seven kills without an error (.583) in addition to a career-high six digs and two block assists.
Senior Emily Clemens totaled 39 assists, a three-set, season-high total. Senior Maddie Brown tied for the match lead with a career-high 17 digs.
In the nightcap, GW was unable to contain a high-octane attack by Washington State. The Cougars swung .357 (44k-14e-84a) en route to a 3-0 win. Set scores were 18-25, 21-25, 15-25.
Moor led the Colonials with eight kills while Williams registered seven winners.
The teams played close throughout the first set, with a kill by Clemens to pull the Colonials within two points of the lead at 18-16. The Cougars answered by scoring seven of the next nine points down the stretch to clinch the 25-18 win.
The Cougars' attack percentage increased in each of the last two sets, hitting .379 (17k-6e-29a) in the second and .423 (14k-3e-26a) in the third, to clinch the match with wins of 25-21 and 25-15, respectively.
GW will conclude play at the Cougar Classic on Saturday when it faces UMES at 1:00 p.m. ET.
