Sept. 12, 2008
Post Game Quotes
WASHINGTON, D.C. - The Georgetown volleyball team (4-3) cruised in its home-opener, winning in straight sets, 25-10, 25-11, 25-11 against St. Francis (N.Y) (0-10) during the first day of the Georgetown Classic at McDonough Arena on Friday evening.
Setters Caitlin Boland (Naperville, Ill./Benet Academy) and Ashley Malone (San Jose, Calif./St. Francis) helped feed the Hoya hitters, who hit a season high 39-percent. Malone had a season-high 26 assists, while Boland had 13 in just one set of play. Freshman Sara Manley (Dove Canyon, Calif./Santa Margarita Catholic) and sophomore Kiersten McKoy (Oakland, Calif./Bishop O'Dowd) had a season-high nine kills, hitting .643.
"I think Ashley Malone and Kiersten McKoy add value to our team every single day," Georgetown head coach Arlisa Williams said. "Just for them to get the court experience makes us better. The one thing that I emphasize is that when you get an opportunity to play, take advantage of it. Both of them did it."
GU raced to a 7-1 lead in the first set and continued to dominate, hitting 58-percent at the 11-4 mark. The Hoyas continued to pull away, as the Terriers scored just three more points, in a 25-10 first set victory for Georgetown. Boland's 13 assists set the table for the Hoya hitters, who hit 58 percent through the first set. Hardy led the way with five kills, while Niesen contributed four.
The Hoyas picked up where they left off in the second set as Ashley Malone served GU to eight consecutive points. During the stretch...The Terriers cut the lead to 10-5, and after another Hoya mini-run cut the lead to within six, before freshman Tori Rezin served the Hoyas to seven straight points as part of a 9-1 run to propel the blue and gray to a 25-11 second set victory. Manley had seven kills, while Malone had 13 assists.
"It was awesome to see everyone hitting so well," said Malone who received her first extended time setting in college. "They were doing really well hitting line like we had practiced and using everything we had learned in the game."
The Terriers kept the third set close early, keeping pace with the Hoyas and taking their first lead of the match at 7-6. Hardy would serve the Hoyas to six straight points before a St. Francis timeout. Hardy would not be iced, as she served the four more points putting the Hoyas in front 17-7.
The Georgetown Classic continues on Saturday, as the Hoyas host Morgan State at 1 p.m. and Brown University at 7 p.m. Admission is free for all fans.
