Oct. 12, 2008
Final Stats
WASHINGTON, D.C. - The Georgetown volleyball team (11-8, 4-2 BIG EAST) trailed late in two of the three sets played during Sunday afternoon's BIG EAST Conference match with Marquette (7-10, 2-3 BIG EAST), but the Hoyas dug deep in each to pull out a 26-24, 25-19, 25-23 victory.
"Coming from behind the sense of urgency really picks up and we were really focused and able to find the open shot and support each other," junior Courtney Cohen. "Marquette had some really big hitters, good jumpers and fast arms and they weren't taking it easy on us, but I think we got hands on a lot of balls and that shifted the momentum our way."
Cohen (Tampa, Fla./Berkeley Prep) had seven kills and three blocks and senior Kit Niesen (Gainesville, Fla./Eastside) had nine kills in 13 attempts to hit .692 on the afternoon. Senior Caitlin Boland (Naperville, Ill./Benet Catholic) set up the Hoyas offense with 38 assists.
Marquette took control early in the first set behind a GU service error and an attack error, as the Golden Eagles opened a 5-2 lead to start. But the Hoyas would close the gap to one, 8-7, behind Kit Niesen and Jessica Hardy's back-to-back kills. The Hoyas tied the score at 12 and took their first lead 14-13, on a Marquette attack error. Leslie Bielski helped vault the Golden Eagles into the lead, but consecutive blocks from Cohen put Georgetown back in front, 18-17. After a Marquette timeout Cohen continued her roll with a kill and a block to give the Hoyas a three-point 20-17 cushion. Marquette continued to set up Bielski, who responded with three kills down the stretch to put Marquette back in front, 24-22, but Georgetown would rally to tie the score at 24 behind the service game of Niesen. Boland would ice the first set with a block, winning 26-24.
Sophomore Vanessa Dorismond (Cary, N.C./Cardinal Gibbons) paced the Hoyas to start the second set with two kills, opening a 5-3 lead. GU and the Eagles traded points throughout the set, though the Hoyas never trailed, eventually pulling away late. Boland had 17 assists and a block, while Niesen led the way with five kills on five total attempts for Georgetown, who won 25-19 to take a two set lead. Dorismond finished with four kills in the set, hitting .600.
The Hoyas continued to ride the momentum from the second set, as Courtney Cohen had two early kills to help build an 8-2 lead, forcing Marquette to use a timeout. After the timeout the Eagles would rally to get back in the match, tying at 16 and surging to take their first lead of the set at 22-21. Behind by two points the Hoyas closed the set on a 4-0 run to win 25-23. Cohen led the Hoyas in the third set with five kills on six attempts.
Georgetown will travel to Tampa, Fla. To take on South Florida on Saturday Oct. 18 before returning to McDonough Arena to host Rutgers on Sunday October 26.
