Sept. 8, 2006
Box Score
WASHINGTON, DC - The Georgetown University women's volleyball team opened the home portion of the 2006 schedule with a 3-0 (30-25, 30-27, 30-15) victory over Campbell University in the nightcap of the Georgetown Classic, on Friday, September 8, at McDonough Gym. The win snapped an 11-match home losing streak and improved the Hoyas' record to 3-4 overall, while the Camels fall to 2-6. In the first game of the two-day tournament, Howard (1-4) won its first match of the season with a hard-fought 3-2 win over Coastal Carolina (1-6).
As she's done all season, sophomore outside hitter Jessica Buffum (San Jose, Calif./Lynbrook) came up big for the Hoyas with a match-high 12 kills to go with five digs and two aces. She also hit match-best .435 (12 kills with just two errors in 23 attempts). In addition, Georgetown hit a solid .423 as a team for the third game of the match, a season high.
Georgetown Head Coach Arlisa Hagan commented on her team's play: "I was impressed with Jessica Buffum's play tonight. She stepped up with a terrific hitting performance and set the tone for the team on attack. The third game was our best of the season as we hit .423 for a team and made only three unforced errors against a solid Campbell team."
The first fame was a close affair with nine ties in the score. At 22-22, the Hoyas tallied four straight points, beginning with a kill from senior Jessica George (Kennett Square, Pa./Kennett) and two aces by junior Katie Nulty (Santa Barbara, Calif./Laguna Blanca). Campbell made it 23-23, but GU took advantage of CU hitting and service errors to take a 29-23 lead. The Hoyas then made a couple of their own and the Camels were down by only four points. Senior Annie Connor (Los Altos, Calif./St. Francis) put the match away with a kill to give the first game to GU 30-25.
Highlights for game two included a seven-point run to put the Hoyas up 18-8. The run was fueled by solid serving from sophomore Caitlin Boland (Naperville, Ill./Benet Academy) and blocking from George and sophomore Katherine Niesen (Gainesville, Fla./Eastside). Niesen also added a kill as did Buffum. Campbell climbed back into the match off solid blocking and serving. Although the Hoyas enjoyed a 29-21 lead, the Camels posted six-straight points to pull to within two at 29-27. A CU service error gave the match to the Hoyas.
The Hoyas came out strong in game three, taking a 6-3 lead off kills from Connor and George as well as a service ace from Buffum and a solo block from Niesen. Campbell refused to fold, fighting back to 11-8. Buffum then went on a tear with three-straight kills to make it 14-8 in favor of GU. The Camels' Ashley Weers earned the side-out and point with a kill, but Georgetown rattled off five consecutive points to pull away, finally sealing the game and match with a 30-15 win.
Nulty ended the night with a match-high 11 digs and four service aces. Boland and junior Kate Fisher split the setter's job with both players posting 14 assists. Fisher also chipped in five digs. Connor donated six kills, two digs and two blocks to the winning effort, while freshman Jessica Hardy (Manhattan Beach, Calif./Mira Costa) added five kills and three digs. Niesen and George contributed four kills and four blocks each, and freshman Dana Dumas (Nokomis, Fla./Pine View) notched three kills, four assists and two digs.
The Hoyas hit .185 for the match and had six team blocks. Campbell hit .000 for the match and garnered nine team blocks. The Hoyas registered eight more digs on the evening (36-28).
In the first match of the Georgetown Classic, Howard defeated Coastal Carolina 3-2 (30-23, 30-24, 10-30, 28-30, 16-14). Morgan Maxwell led the Bison with 11 kills, 12 digs and three blocks. Laura Obert was the top offensive producer for the Chanticleers with a match-high 14 kills, while Brett Starbuck tallied 13 digs.
The Hoyas are back in action tomorrow with a 1:00 p.m. match against cross-town rival Howard in McDonough Gym. GU will take on Coastal Carolina at 7:00 p.m. The 11:00 a.m. match will feature Coastal Carolina vs. Campbell; and the 5:00 p.m. match will see Howard square off against Campbell.
