WASHINGTON – Georgetown University's volleyball team kicks off the 2021 campaign with the DC Challenge, playing three matches in three days against longtime local foes. The Hoyas open the season at home on Friday against American before road contests in the District against Howard and George Washington on Saturday and Sunday, respectively.
 
Links to live stats and video for all three matches are available at GUHoyas.com.
 
About the Hoyas

• Georgetown plays its first match in 642 days when it hosts American on Friday.
• The Hoyas return nine letterwinners while 13 new faces will don the Blue & Gray this season.
• Seniors Elissa Barbosa and Jessica Cusi were both named team captains for the 2021 campaign.
• Three different returning Hoyas averaged at least a kill per set in 2019, led by Barbosa's 2.17 along with Peyton Wilhite and Brennan Wilhite's 1.84 and 1.24, respectively.
• Defensively, Cusi averaged 3.53 digs per set in 2019 while Barbosa added 2.18 and Emma Plutnicki had 2.07. Both Kelly Chen and Ellie Watkins added at least a dig per set as well.
• At the net, Makayla Serrett and Brennan Wilhite both averaged 0.77 blocks per set.
• Returning setters include Plutnicki and Watkins, having averaged 8.10 and 3.30 assists per set, respectively, as freshmen in 2019.
• Also back for the Hoyas is senior Lara Adekunle, fully recovered from an injury during her sophomore season following a promising freshman campaign.
• Newcomers for the Blue & Gray include transfers Makana Meyer and Lucrezia Lualdi, sophomores Ellen Chang, Ruth Kayongo, Abby Lutterloh, Lydia Schubert, Chanelle Smith and Gabby Williams along with freshmen Lilly Costigan, Mary Grace Goyena, Karis Park, Minnie Purcell and Giselle Williams.

 
Scouting American

• The Eagles went 4-4 in the COVID-19 shortened 2020-21 season, falling to Colgate in the Patriot League semifinals.
• As a team, American was selected to finish second in the Patriot League Preseason Poll in a narrow three-way race between Colgate and Army West Point.
• Zeynep Uzen leads the Eagles as a 2021 Patriot League Preseason All-League selection. Uzen was the Patriot League Rookie of the Year in 2019.
• Just up Foxhall Rd. in the District, American is one of Georgetown's oldest rivals dating back to 1977. The Hoyas own a 19-17 overall record against the Eagles, including a 3-2 victory the last time the two teams played in 2017.

 
Scouting Howard

• The Hoyas head crosstown to take on the Bison on Saturday at 1 p.m.
• Howard is coming off a 3-11 overall record in the COVID-19 shortened 2020-21 season, snapping a streak of five-consecutive Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference championships in the process.
• Back for the Bison are Jennifer Bolden and Amari Patterson, both MEAC All-Rookie selections last season, and Kailyn Williams, the 2019 MEAC Tournament Most Outstanding Player.
• Georgetown and Howard have played 34 times dating back to 1977 with the Hoyas owing a 32-2 all-time advantage. The Blue & Gray have won the past two meetings, including a 3-0 sweep at home against the Bison in 2019.

 
Scouting GW

• Sunday's showdown features the Hoyas travelling to Ward 2 rival George Washington at 1 p.m.
• The Colonials went 1-9 overall in the COVID-19 shortened 2020-21 campaign.
• GW is led by Bella Bowman on the defensive end after eclipsing the 1,000 career digs mark in 2020 as well as Paz Dozie-Nnamah and Elizabeth Drelling on the offensive end.
• The two programs have battled extensively since 1977 with GW holding a 37-24 advantage in the series.
• GW won the last two meetings while Georgetown's last win came in 2013.

 
Side Out
Following the opening weekend, the Hoyas head to Loretto, Pennsylvania to take part in the Red Flash Classic, presented by Altoona Grand Hotel on September 3-4. Georgetown takes on Delaware State, St. Peter's and the hosts St. Francis (Pa.) in the event.
 
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All Georgetown Volleyball home matches are currently scheduled to be played at McDonough Arena. In accordance with Washington, D.C. regulations, masks are required for attendance at all indoor events on campus.