GW kicked off a great start to its season this weekend as the Colonials completed a four-team sweep and won the Chesapeake Volleyball Invitational held at the Smith Center. The Colonials (4-0) overpowered Manhattan and Robert Morris colleges Saturday after dominating Howard and Wagner universities Friday.
I think the girls did extremely well, interim coach Jojit Coronel said. They executed their moves on the court and put on a great show out there. The court is there for them to perform and they performed well.
The weekend victories displayed the leadership and maturity of the team’s five starting seniors – Julie Jahnke, Tracee Brown, Jill Levey, Suzana Manole and Renee Arnold. The matches also featured strong play from freshman Ruth Lazzari in the outside hitter position.
There was really good chemistry out there, Lazzari said. The lineup was mixed up and it worked out really well.
The Colonials maintained a strong offensive attack throughout averaging 41 kills over the four games and did not commit more than nine errors in a match. GW, which won all 12 of its games over the four-match span, will look to keep the winning streak going tonight as it hits the road to take on the University of Maryland-Baltimore County.
GW 3, Manhattan 0
Saturday, Sept. 2
Manhattan gave GW some competition Saturday, but senior Julie Jahnke pounded a game-high 10 kills as the Colonials routed the Jaspers 15-5, 15-7, 15-6 to complete GW’s perfect weekend. The victory was the team’s second of the day. Jahnke also showed her talent off the court chanting songs to the crowd during the match.
The Colonials received solid play from Manole who contributed nine kills, nine digs and eight block assists and Levey who had 26 assists.
Manole is hitting the ball a lot harder, she is very determined this season to play well, Coronel said. Jill did an outstanding job. She now made the All-Tournament Team. She played a great defense and ran the offense.
The Colonials nailed 14 kills in each game and had an attack percentage of .327 (42 kills and nine errors in 101 total attempts). The Jaspers managed 35 kills against the Colonials but committed 26 errors.
GW 3, Robert Morris 0
Saturday, Sept. 2
GW continued its weekend dominance over visiting Robert Morris Colonials Saturday morning at the Smith Center disposing of its opponents in less than an hour. GW won the match 15-3, 15-1, 15-8.
Tracee Brown led the GW charge with 12 kills and finished with an attack percentage of .550. Arnold pounded nine kills while Jahnke added eight. Lauren Dunning provided some relief for Levey (17 assists) as the freshman posted 13 assists in one game.
Robert Morris committed 23 errors in the game and managed only one block.
GW 3, Howard 0
Friday, Sept. 1
The Colonials finished off Friday’s opening day with a 15-1, 15-4, 15-5 victory over visiting Howard. Brown (11 kills) and Jahnke (seven kills) led an overpowering Colonials team, which allowed the Bison only a few possessions in the first game. The excitement was evident when Manole started dancing on the court during a timeout.
Coronel used 11 players in the victory including freshman Lindsay Ochs, who played one game in her first ever college match.
It is good to have freshmen come in, Manole said. It gives us a lot of confidence especially when we are gone next year.
GW 3, Wagner 0
Friday, Sept. 1
GW began its season with a lopsided three-game victory over the Wagner Seahawks in Friday afternoon’s home opener at the Smith Center. The Colonials defense allowed only two kills in the first game (15-2) and despite giving up ten in the second game, the GW offense pounded 26 kills of its own en route to a 15-3 win. GW easily won the third game 15-1.
Lazzari, Brown and Manole each had eight kills and Levey had 31 assists. This was the first college match for Lazzari, Dunning and Sarah Hokum (two kills).
