WASHINGTON – Georgetown University's volleyball team starts their season with a trio of road matches across the DMV. Facing Howard on Friday, George Mason on Saturday, and American on Sunday, the Hoyas have a full weekend of games to open the 2023 season.
 
Links to live stats and video for all three matches are available at GUHoyas.com.
 
About the Hoyas
 

• Georgetown (0-0) will play their first game under new head coach AJ Bonetti. Bonetti joined the program in February.
• Five newcomers will represent Georgetown for the first time on Friday: Grace Albaugh, Mei Corricello, Maria Flippova, Kamryn Lee-Caracci, and Emily Wen
• Outside Hitters Mary Grace Goyena and Giselle Williams return after leading the Hoyas last season with 2.91 and 2.38 kills per set, respectively
• Senior Chanelle Smith finished third in the BIG EAST last season with 1.05 blocks per set
• Two returning Hoyas were named 2022 College Sports Communications Academic All District athletes: Karis Park and Mary Grace Goyena.
• Georgetown's defense impressed last season, ranking fifth in the BIG EAST with 2.00 blocks per set
• Libero Karis Park enters her junior year after totaling 449 digs and 22 service aces last year

 
Scouting Howard

• Friday's match is set to start at 6:00 p.m.
• The Bison (0-0) will play host to Georgetown in their season opener before facing George Washington and George Mason to round out their D.C. Challenge schedule.
• Howard were 2022 Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference Regular Season co-champions (20-10, 12-2 MEAC)
• Sophomore Rya McKinnon will look to build on a standout freshman season which saw her take home both 2022 MEAC Player of the Year and Rookie of the Year honors.
• The Bison were been picked as preseason favorites to win the MEAC
• Three Bison were named to the Preseason All-MEAC Team: Rya McKinnon, Rayla Diaz, and Jennifer Bolden
• Georgetown hosted Howard during last year's D.C. Challenge, falling in three sets

 
Scouting George Mason

• Saturday's game will start at 7:00 p.m.
• George Mason (0-0) will play American on Friday before meeting the Hoyas Saturday, then will round out their Challenge weekend playing host to Howard.
• Last Season the Patriots went 7-22 with a 3-15 record in Atlantic 10 play
• Setter Gabriella Gelfound will look to build on a freshman year that saw her named to the Atlantic 10 All-Rookie team 
• Junior Olyvia Kennedy led George Mason with 258 kills last season
• The Hoyas last faced George Mason in 2018, winning in three sets

 
Scouting American

• The Hoyas face American at 2:00 p.m. on Sunday
• Before facing off against Georgetown, The Eagles (0-0) will face George Washington and George Mason on Friday and Saturday respectively.
• After finishing sixth in conference last season, American adds seven new recruits to their team
• Graduate Student Zeynep Uzen has been pegged to have another strong season, being voted Patriot League Preseason Player of the Year after being named to the All-Patriot League First-Team in 2022
• Junior Esma Sipahi enters her third season with the Eagles after finishing 10th in the Patriot League with 5.08 assists per set
• Georgetown faced American last August, falling in three sets