Sep 6, 2013
Campbell Tournament Central
WASHINGTON - The Georgetown women's volleyball team returns to action Friday afternoon with an appearance in its second tournament of the season, the Campbell Tournament in Buies Creek, N.C. The Hoyas (2-2) begin the day with a showdown against Indiana State at 12:30 p.m., followed by a tussle with North Carolina Central at 5:30 p.m. Georgetown will face host Campbell University in the finale on Saturday at 1:30 p.m.
GU is coming off a tough battle with Liberty on the road, as the Hoyas dropped in four sets to the Flames, 25-22, 25-23, 22-25, 25-16. Senior Annalee Abell had her best match of the young season, totaling 13 kills, and the trio of Alex Johnson (16 kills, 12 digs), Lauren Saar (11 kills, 17 digs) and Dani White (10 kills, two service aces) kept the Blue & Gray right in the thick of things.
Johnson leads all Hoyas this season with 57 kills, adding three service aces, seven blocks and 40 digs. White, who was recently named to the first BIG EAST Weekly Honor Roll after her performance in the DC Challenge, is second with 42 kills, also contributing with three aces, a team-best 16 blocks (three solo) and six digs. For her part, Saar has 41 kills and is second on the squad with 53 digs. In the backcourt, MacKenzie Simpson holds the team lead with 65 digs (4.33 per set), playing lights-out defense.
Freshmen Caitlin Brauneis and Ashlie Williams have both played every set in their debuts on the Hilltop, each contributing heavily. Brauneis has established herself as the primary setter, laying up 158 assists in four matches (10.53 per set), while Williams has been stout in the middle, compiling nine kills, two assists and is second on the team with eight blocks.
Indiana State comes into the tournament with a 2-1 record on the year, having defeated SIUE and Chicago State, 3-2 and 3-1, respectively, and lost to Akron, 3-2. ISU is led by Morgan Dall at the net. With 51 kills on the year, Dall has 22 more than Cassandra Willis (29) who sits in second on the squad in the offensive category. Dall also adds 20 digs and four blocks to the Sycamores' cause. The dynamic duo of Kynedi Nalls and Cassandra Willis have combined for 24 blocks between the two, creating a force between the pins.
NC Central is still searching for its first win of the 2013 season, holding an 0-4 record, swept all four times. The Eagles get help on offense from Da'Sha Brown (31 kills) and Kalin Russell (30 kills). Brown also leads the team in digs and has two blocks as well. NCCU's Ashley McCarthy leads the squad with nine blocks, adding 14 digs as well.
Like Georgetown, Campbell enters its tournament with a 2-2 record. The Camels have some explosiveness on offense, and know how to spread the ball around. Five of the seven players to record a kill have at least 29 on the year, led by Lindsey Coats with 33. Mary Crema has a team-high 88 digs already on defense, and Lorin Thomas leads the squad with 16 blocks, five of which are solo attempts.
After the trip to North Carolina, Georgetown returns for its first home contest when George Washington visits McDonough Arena at 7 p.m. on Sept. 11. The Hoyas will then round out their tournament season with trips to Gainesville, Fla., and Morgantown, W.Va.
