WASHINGTON – Georgetown University's volleyball team dropped another hard-fought match with a 3-2 (19-25, 18-25, 25-21, 25-18, 15-11) loss to Delaware State to open the Red Flash Classic, Presented by Altoona Grand Hotel on Friday night in Loretto, Pennsylvania. The Hoyas fall to 1-3 overall on the season and look to even their season record with a pair of matches on Saturday afternoon.
 
"Tough loss today," Head Coach David Heller said. "We had a really high side out rate this match but couldn't score enough points on our defensive end. Giselle really is stepping up and producing offensively. Emma made some great setting decisions tonight and really worked to keep our middles involved. Brennan and Elissa brought some sparks late in the match and that was great leadership on their parts. The speed Delaware State played with is so drastically different from our tempo and they were in system and ran it well. Glad we get two more chances tomorrow to get better."
 
Hoya Highlights

• Giselle Williams led the Hoyas with a match-high 19 kills while hitting .220 from the outside and added eight digs.
• Mary Grace Goyena chipped in 10 kills while Minnie Purcell had seven and Chanelle Smith added six.
• Smith led the Hoyas with five blocks while Goyena, Makayla Serrett and Brennan Wilhite each added four.
• Kelly Chen and Karis Park recorded three service aces each and Emma Plutnicki added another pair.
• Plutnicki posted 43 assists as well to go with 11 digs for the double-double.
• Jessica Cusi anchored the back row with 17 digs and Makana Meyer chimed in with 12.

 
How it Happened

• Georgetown owned the first two frames, hitting at least .200 in both stanzas to take a 2-0 advantage.
• Delaware State came out firing in the next two sets, hitting .456 and .333, respectively, to even the match at 2-2.
• A tightly-contested fifth set saw ties at 6-6 and 8-8, but a subsequent 6-2 run from the Hornets put Georgetown on its heels and forced a timeout at 14-10. The Hoyas managed a point out of the break, courtesy of a double block from sisters Brennan Wilhite and Peyton Wilhite, but DSU scored on the ensuing rally to seal the victory.

 
Delaware State Notes

• The Hornets improve to 4-0 on the season.
• Georgetown's two set victories are the first that DSU has given up this season.
• Valeria Otero led the way with 16 kills while Alondra Maldonado had 12 and Mayah Ngundam added 10.
• Otero and Kristi Gomez both had 22 digs and Jasmal Cruz added 16.
• The win was the first for the Hornets in the inaugural meeting between the two programs.

 
Side Out
The Hoyas return to action next on Saturday at the Red Flash Classic, Presented by Altoona Grand Hotel. Georgetown takes on St. Peter's at 1 p.m. followed by host St. Francis (Pa.) at 5 p.m.
 
--
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.