Volleyball Opens Season at Morgan State, Delaware State

Friday, January 29

Baltimore, MD

5 p.m.

George Washington University

Morgan State

1/27/2021 9:41:00 AM | Women's Volleyball

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GW returns to the court for the first time in 432 days

WASHINGTON - GW volleyball is set to begin its unprecedented 2020-21 campaign with a pair of road matches this weekend at Morgan State (Friday, 5 p.m.) and Delaware State (Saturday, 4 p.m.).

WELCOME BACK: The Buff & Blue take the court with their defensive backbone intact from last year in junior libero Bella Bowman and senior defensive specialist Sydney Welch. Bowman finished last year fifth in the A-10 with 4.13 digs per set, playing every set. Welch also appeared in all 100 sets, finishing fourth on the team with 1.85 digs per set.

GW will also call upon returners Paz Dozie-Nnamah (Jr., OH), Addie Feek (So., MB), Sarah Pintel (So., OH), Heather Merryman (Jr., S) and Callie Fauntleroy (Sr., MB), who all saw extensive action last year, to take on larger roles this season.

FRESH FACES: GW welcomed five new faces to the program in the elongated offseason - three first-years and two transfers. Ashley Waggle looks to follow in the success of right-side transfers from TCU after Paty Valle last year. Waggle hit .197 for the Horned Frogs in 2019, recording 2.22 kills per set. Lauren LaBeck, a transfer from South Florida, is expected to step into the starting setter's spot after dishing out 7.30 assists per set for the Bulls in 2019.

The Buff & Blue will also look for instant impact from first-years Elizabeth Drelling (OH), Markella Lanara (MB) and Liv Womble (OPP).

ACROSS THE NET: Morgan State opened its season with a five-set loss to Temple last weekend, but earned a pair of conference honors. Tylar Roberson recorded a double-double with 15 kills and 10 digs to earn MEAC Player of the Week honors, while Gabriela Hiciano was named Co-Rookie of the Week with 11 kills and nine digs in her collegiate debut. The Bears were 18-13 a year ago, advancing to the MEAC championship before falling in five sets to Howard.

Delaware State is also 0-1 following a five-set loss at Old Dominion last weekend. The Hornets posted a 10-win improvement from 2018 to 2019, finishing 12-18, the program's highest win total since 2010. Freshman Valeria Otero led DSU with 14 kills in the first match at ODU, while senior Mayah Ngundam had nine block assists to lead the defensive charge for the Hornets.