WASHINGTON – Playing its first match in 642 days, the Georgetown University volleyball team dropped its 2021 season opener 3-2 (25-23, 23-25, 25-13, 11-25, 15-8) to visiting American in the DC Challenge on Friday evening. The Hoyas used a balance of experienced play from their veteran leadership and stellar debuts from a trio of newcomers to battle to the end of the marathon thriller.
 
"I am really proud of our first effort against a seasoned team," Head Coach David Heller said. "We had some really great rallies tonight and we won a lot of the longer ones. The energy from the crowd helped fuel us in set four. It was awesome for the team to have that support. Jess played lights out defense, Chanelle was getting hands on everything at the net and our freshmen stepped onto the court and made some great plays. It also showed us some things we need to work on next week to continue working to get better. Overall, it was a great return to McDonough and a sign of the things to come."
 
Hoya Highlights

• Freshman Mary Grace Goyena led the Hoyas with 15 kills to go with seven digs and a pair of service aces and blocks each.
• Fellow rookie Minnie Purcell added 10 kills while hitting at a .348 clip from the right side while adding a pair of blocks as well.
• Sophomore Chanelle Smith, making her collegiate debut, was a force at the net with eight blocks on the night to lead all players.
• Senior captain Elissa Barbosa was just shy of a double-double with 10 digs and nine assists.
• Running the show, junior setter Emma Plutnicki has a solid all-around match with 34 assists, 10 digs, five blocks and five kills.
• On the back row, senior captain Jessica Cusi led all players with 26 digs while junior Kelly Chen chipped in 14.

 
How it Happened

• A true back-and-forth match, neither side could capitalize on momentum and split sets to the very end.
• American took an early 9-2 lead in the opening set, only to see the Hoyas battle back to knot things at 14-14. Neither team would hold any more than a three-point lead the rest of the frame before the Eagles held on to a 25-23 win.
• Similarly in the second set, but flipped, the Blue & Gray took an 18-12 lead mid-frame only to see AU claw back and tie things up at 21-21 and retake the lead at 23-22. A subsequent kill by Goyena, followed by a pair of blocks anchored by Smith, sealed the 25-23 win for the Hoyas and evened the match at one set apiece.
• Neither the third nor fourth sets were particularly competitive, with both losing teams hitting negative in their respective frame. Five different Hoyas had at least two kills in the fourth, including four from Purcell and three by Goyena.
• The fifth set was a back-and-forth affair early with four ties and three lead changes through the first half of the frame. Tied at 6-6, American used a 6-0 run to take a 12-6 lead and held off the Hoyas the rest of the way.

 
American Notes

• Zeynep Uzen led the Eagles with a match-high 19 kills and 19 digs for a double-double while Katie Putney added 11 kills.
• Chiara Bosetti collected 25 digs and Allie Burke led AU with six blocks on the night.

 
Side Out
The Hoyas return to action on Saturday as they continue to battle for District bragging rights. Georgetown travels to face Howard on Saturday at 1 p.m. before closing out the weekend at Ward 2 rival George Washington on Sunday at 1 p.m.
 
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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.