A year ago the GW Volleyball team was 21-11 and 8-6 in the Atlantic 10, which was good enough for conference tournament berth. This year has been the complete opposite for the Colonials, who have now lost nine straight matches, the longest streak in program history.
On Tuesday night at George Mason, the Patriots handed GW a 3-0; 30-25, 30-24, 35-33 loss.
“I really have no idea (what’s going on),” sophomore Kaimana Lee said. “I think we just constantly make errors. We will have strings of really good plays and really good emotions and then something will happen.”
Lee also said the team has not improved on its mistakes.
“I think in the beginning of the season we were making errors and we would always say to each other, ‘You will get the next one,’ but those (comments) have just been compounding and we are just making the same errors every single time,” Lee said.
The Colonials (4-17, 1-7 A-10) have not won a non-conference game since the GW Invitational on Sept. 18. They are in last place in the A-10 and have not won a road game this season.
After falling behind 2-0 Tuesday, the Colonials looked to avoid a sweep. They had a late 29-27 lead, but once again could not put the game away. GMU scored two straight points to pull all even at 29.
In overtime, GMU ended the Colonials’ night and extended their losing streak with a 35-33 come-from-behind victory.
“I don’t doubt anyone’s effort and I never have,” Lee said. “It’s just hard for us to get all the cylinders going at the same time. At points we have had four of the cylinders going, or three, but most good teams can get all six going by at least halfway through the season. Maybe it’s just taking us longer, and maybe we won’t ever get there. But we can’t be afraid to lose and we need to play all out because we can’t lose anymore. All we can play for is self-respect.”
Sophomore Juliene McLaughlin, who has been the biggest offensive threat for the Colonials this season, saw limited action and only recorded one kill.
McLaughlin said she was not hurt but said she has not been playing that well as of late, which might have contributed to the lack of playing time.
McLaughlin made no excuses for the nine-game losing skid and said she still has something to play for.
“It’s not something to be proud of, that’s for sure,” she said. “Everyone is really frustrated at this point. I think it’s just important that we don’t give up (on the season). We can still do some damage in the A-10s and get our confidence up for next season.”
The Colonials will travel to Philadelphia this weekend to face off against Temple and La Salle. GW has not beaten the Owls in 13 matches. GW beat La Salle earlier this season at this Smith Center.
