WASHINGTON – Georgetown University's volleyball team opens the home portion of its schedule as it hosts the annual Georgetown Classic this weekend. The Hoyas welcome George Mason, Norfolk State, Penn and UNC Wilmington to the Hilltop for nine combined matches on Friday, Aug. 31 and Saturday, Sept. 1.
A near-annual tradition on the Hilltop since 1986, the Georgetown Classic returned to campus in 2016 following a brief hiatus. The Hoyas have gone 51-23 all-time in the event including 11 undefeated weekends.
Live stats for all matches can be found at www.GUHoyas.com. Live video for Georgetown's four matches will also be available for a nominal fee with Monika Moore calling the action. A full schedule, results and team information for all five schools can also be found on the tournament page here.
The Hoyas are coming off a 2-2 opening weekend at the Hyatt Regency Invitational, hosted by Georgia Tech in Atlanta. Head Coach Toby Rens earned his first victory at the helm of the Hoyas with a come-from-behind five set win over Idaho on opening day. Symone Speech (Oak Park, Ill. / Oak Park-River Forest) was named to the All-Tournament Team after averaging 3.19 kills and 1.19 digs per set while hitting at a .271 clip. Alyssa Sinnette (Pearland, Texas / Dawson) led the Hoyas with 3.94 kps to go with 2.62 digs per set and posted three double-doubles on the week. Iva Vujosevic (Bar, Montenegro / Niko Rolovic / UMES) also chipped in 3.12 kps and 2.19 dps with a team-high nine service aces. Kenzie Higareda (Woodbridge, Va. / Forest Park) averaged 5.44 dps and eclipsed 20 digs in three matches over the weekend.
Georgetown faces Norfolk State on Friday at noon followed by Penn at 6 p.m. Saturday's action has the Hoyas going up against George Mason at noon and UNC Wilmington at 6 p.m.
Norfolk State has yet to play this season. The Spartans went 3-23 in 2017 are led by returners Taylor Eichelberger (2.47 kps) and Jazmine Craig (1.39 kps).
Georgetown and NSU have only played once before, a 3-0 victory for the Hoyas in 2015.
Like NSU, Penn will see its first action in 2018 at the Georgetown Classic. The Quakers first face George Mason in the tournament opener on Friday before battling the Blue & Gray in the day's finale. Penn went 12-11 last season and returns its top offensive threat, Parker Jones (3.43 kps), as well as its libero Caroline Furrer (3.45 dps).
Georgetown is 12-5 all-time against Penn, winning nine of the last 10 showdowns including the last meeting, 3-0, in Philadelphia in 2014.
Saturday's competition will pit the Blue & Gray against teams that have already cut their teeth on the 2018 campaign. George Mason opened the season locally at the D.C. Challenge, falling 3-0 at American and 3-1 against Howard. Sam Hardy and Peyton Ehmke come to the Hilltop averaging 2.57 and 2.14 kills per set, respectively, while Hardy also leads the way with 2.14 digs a frame. The Patriots play Penn on Friday before taking on the Hoyas.
Georgetown and George Mason have played 40 times in program history dating back to 1977 with the Hoyas owning a 26-14 series advantage. The Blue & Gray have won five of the last six meetings, including a 3-1 victory at the Patriots during the last meeting in 2016.
In the tournament finale, Georgetown hosts UNCW. The Seahawks opened the season with a trio of 3-0 losses, including a pair of shutouts to No. 12 Illinois and No. 25 Colorado State. Maddy Kilne leads UNCW with 2.00 kills per set while Brynn Montgomery and Anna Moss both chip in 1.89 kps. Katie McCullough paces the back row with 3.44 digs per set and Rebecca Nuanez is a defensive threat at the net with 1.40 blocks per set.
This will be the first meeting between Georgetown and UNC Wilmington.
Following the weekend's action, the Hoyas head down to Richmond to on Tuesday, September 4 to take on VCU at 6 p.m.
