Sept. 24, 2015 WASHINGTON - BIG EAST play opens the weekend when the Georgetown University volleyball team hosts Villanova and Seton Hall in a pair of matches at McDonough Arena. The contest with the Wildcats is set for 7 p.m. on Friday while the Pirates will visit the Hilltop on Sunday afternoon for a 2 p.m. match.
Live stats and webstream for both matches can be found on the volleyball schedule at www.guhoyas.com.
Georgetown wrapped up non-conference play with a 6-7 record for the fourth-consecutive season. The Hoyas went 2-1 last weekend at the JMU Invitational, sweeping three-set matches from both N.C. Central (NCCU) and Norfolk State while dropping a 3-1 decision to James Madison. In its two wins, GU averaged 15.00 kills per set while, against NCCU, the defense allowed just seven points in the third set ââ'¬" the fewest in a single set since the Hoyas allowed seven in the fifth set of a 3-2 win over N.C. State on September 19, 2009.
Alyssa Sinnette (Pearland, Texas/Dawson) leads Georgetown and ranks fourth in the BIG EAST with 179 kills and 3.73 kills per set.
Symone Speech (Oak Park, Ill./Oak Park-River Forest) is tied for third among BIG EAST hitters with a .337 hitting percentage.
Paige McKnight (Atlanta, Ga./Dunwoody) leads the conference with 23 service aces while averaging 9.46 assists per set.
Kenzie Higareda (Woodbridge, Va./Forest Park) ranks third in the BIG EAST with 18 aces and is second with 4.67 digs per set.
Villanova enters with a 10-3 overall record and riding a seven-match winning streak. The Wildcats have played two common opponents with the Hoyas, defeating both Howard (3-0) and James Madison (3-1). Allie Loitz leads the offense with a 3.67 kills per set average while Emma Pettit is averaging 11.50 assists per set. Michelle Adams is atop the defense with 4.06 digs per set and Gabby Pethokoukis is averaging 0.95 blocks per set. GU and Villanova have split the last four meetings over the past two seasons with each team winning on its home court. The Hoyas swept the final match of 2014, 3-0, at McDonough Arena.
Seton Hall comes into the weekend at an even .500, sporting a 6-6 record after winning its past two matches over Cornell and Binghamton. The Pirates, who will play at Creighton on Friday, do not have anyone with more than 3.00 kills per set and are led by Cherise Hennigan, who averages 2.78. Sophia Coffey sets 8.89 assists per set while Tessa Fournier leads the defense with 4.53 digs per set. Abby Thelen has 40 total blocks while Amanda Hansen has 10 solo blocks. The Hoyas are looking to end a three-match losing streak to the Pirates. GU last defeated Seton Hall in October 2013 in South Orange, N.J.
Following the home-opening weekend, the Blue & Gray will head out on the road for three-consecutive BIG EAST matches. GU will play at Providence at 7 p.m. on Friday, October 2 before taking on St. John's the following day at 5 p.m. A match at Creighton, on Tuesday, October 6, will conclude the road trip before the Hoyas return to McDonough Arena on Friday, October 9 for a match with Marquette.
