WASHINGTON - Georgetown volleyball is set to open its 2014 season on Friday night with a 7:30 p.m. match at American University's Bender Arena as part of the D.C. Challenge. The Blue & Gray return 88-percent of their offense from 2013. Georgetown finished with 1,318 kills as a team last season, averaging 11.77 kills per set, and have the top four leaders in that category returning this year.

"We are extremely excited about the upcoming season," Georgetown Head Coach Arlisa Williams said. "For the first time in a long time we have depth at every position on offense. We have experience, confidence and leadership. The players have worked extremely hard and our gym has been very competitive this preseason. We look forward to it coming together as we open up this weekend with the D.C. Challenge."

Junior co-captain Lauren Saar (Richland, Mich./Plainwell) led the Hoyas with 345 kills (3.08 kills per set) while starting all 29 matches. Her kills per set average ranked her eighth in the entire BIG EAST. Saar was the only Hoyas last season to record at least 20 kills in a match, doing so on three separate occasions.

Senior middle blocker Dani White (Mission Viejo, Calif./Mission Viejo), was right behind Saar with 309 kills (2.76 kills per set) last season, earning a selection to the All-BIG EAST Second Team for the second-consecutive season. She had a team-high .272 hitting percentage for the season, and had three of the top four best single-match hitting percentages.

Last season, senior outside hitter Alex Johnson (Tampa, Fla,/Plant) was third on the team in kills with 281 (2.51 kills per set). She had seven different matches where she hit at least 15 kills, highlighted by a season-high 19 kills in the season-opener against George Mason. Johnson also led the Hoyas, and ranked fifth in the BIG EAST with 35 service aces (.31 aces per set).

Sophomore middle blocker Ashlie Williams (Los Angeles, Calif./Marymount) enjoyed a solid freshman campaign in 2013, finished fourth on the team with 159 kills (1.61 per set).

Caitlin Brauneis (Crystal Lake, Ill./Prairie Ridge) had one of the best seasons for a setter in recent program history, recording 1,120 assists last year as a freshman, good for eighth in the BIG EAST. She had five matches with at least 59 assists, highlighted by 59 in a 3-2 victory over Western Michigan on September 14. Brauneis also ranked third on the Hoyas with 21 service aces.

While junior Emily Gisolfi (Allentown, Pa./Parkland) is one of Georgetown's top defensive players, she has proven extremely effective from the service line. She finished second on the team with 22 service aces, ranking eighth in the BIG EAST with a .28 aces per set average. She had a season-best five aces in a win over Iona early in the season.

Terese Cannon (Pittsford, N.Y./Our Lady of Mercy), a 6-3 freshman outside hitter, will drive to make an immediate impact in Georgetown's lineup, after a decorated high school career. Additionally, redshirt senior Elizabeth Riggins (Mission Viejo, Calif/Santa Margarita), junior Alyssa Gerardi (Randolph, N.J./Randolf) and sophomore Shannon Ellis (Friendswood, Texas/Friendswood) will all look to add depth to the Blue & Gray's offense.

Following Friday night's matchup with American, Georgetown will continue the D.C. Challenge on Saturday when the Blue & Gray will take on George Mason at 1 p.m. and Howard at 5 p.m., with both matches being played at George Mason.