WASHINGTON, D.C. – The first day of the DC Showdown was not kind to Old Dominion volleyball as the Monarchs fell 3-0 at Georgetown and 3-1 at George Washington.
"Georgetown played a solid match and executed at a high level," said head coach Fred Chao. "George Washington gave us some opportunities, but we didn't capitalize on them. We need to work on that."
Georgetown 3, ODU 0
After trailing 15-9 in the opening set, the Monarchs (4-5) used a late 8-0 run to pull ahead, 23-20. ODU couldn't close out the set, though, and the Hoyas (6-1) won the next five points for a 25-23 tally.
In the second set, a block by LeeAnne Lowery and Myah Conway got the Monarchs to within a point of Georgetown at 15-14. A couple of Georgetown attack errors and a kill by Conway cut the deficit to 19-17, but the Hoyas secured six of the next seven points to go up two sets to none.
Kills by Tessa Mati, Alice Munari and Lowery helped Old Dominion build an early 9-5 advantage in the third set, but a 6-1 swing allowed Georgetown to pull ahead 13-11. The Hoyas then put together runs of 6-0 and 4-0 to close out the match with a 25-15 decision.
Conway scored 10 kills to lead ODU's attack and added three blocks with three digs to her totals. Tessa Mati followed with a season-high eight kills, Teresa Atilano tallied 17 assists, and Bailey Burgess and Munari served one ace each. Lowery tied her season-best of four blocks, Conway made three blocks and Burgess added two. Kate Kilpatrick finished the match with six digs.
GWU 3, ODU 1
Neither side could assert themselves in the first set until the Revolutionaries (1-6) went up 20-15 with three kills and a block. A GWU service error and a kill by Jones kept the set going at 24-20, but an ODU ball handling error gave the set to the home team.
ODU responded with a 25-20 set two victory to even the match at a set apiece. Two more kills from Jones and a couple of blocks by Olivia De Jesus helped the Monarchs build an early 7-2 lead. The Revs got back to within three points at 21-18, but ODU was able to close out the set as Ashlynn Belcher assisted De Jesus on set point.
Atilano proved effective at the service line to open the third set, serving three aces to put the Monarchs in front 4-0. ODU could not overcome a 9-0 push by GWU though and the Revs pulled away, 13-8. Old Dominion put together a late 4-0 run to get back to within 24-22, but the Revs earned the next point.
ODU led the fourth set 16-13, but GWU wrestled control with a 5-0 spurt. A service error and three-straight blocks by De Jesus, Munari and Atilano trimmed the Revolutionaries' lead to 23-22. The sides then traded points as GWU won the match with a 25-23 total.
Conway set a new season high and led both teams with 19 kills, and Jones also scored double-digit kills with 12. Atilano turned in her fourth double-double of the season with 29 assists and 10 digs. The San Diego, California native also served five aces and added three kills and as many blocks to her totals. Kilpatrick tied her season best of 19 digs, Munari had 13 digs with seven kills, and De Jesus recorded a match-high seven blocks.
"We haven't played well so far," continued Chao. "We need to control the first touch better in all phases. Some of our players are going through some growing pains and we have to ride it out. We will continue to play hard and stay together as a team. When we get some time to practice, we will work to tighten things up and get our system functioning at a higher level."
Up Next
The Monarchs close out the Showdown with a noon match versus North Alabama on Saturday, which will be played at George Washington's Charles E. Smith Center.
Volleyball Falls to Georgetown and George Washington on First Day of DC Showdown
