GW head coach Jojit Coronel said he was looking forward to an easier time against Duquesne this weekend after tough losses to conference powerhouse Temple and local rival Georgetown, but the hosting Dukes overtook the women’s volleyball team 3-1 for their first win of the season Saturday. The Colonials (11-9, 2-3 Atlantic 10) dropped below .500 in the conference for the first time this season. One day earlier, the Colonials breezed by Saint Francis 3-0 in Loretto, Pa.
The Dukes (11-8, 1-3 A-10), led by Sarah Morrow and Stephanie Hopkins (13 kills each), beat GW for only the fifth time in the teams’ 29 meetings. After a 30-28 win in the first game, GW dropped three straight games for the 3-1 conference loss.
After hitting .186 as a team in the first game, errors plagued the Colonials, and they hit .107, .034 and .067 in their three remaining games. Over the four games, Duquesne out-hit GW .141 to .074, tallying 11 more defensive digs.
GW gave up nine points on service errors, compared to Duquesne’s four, and scored no points on service aces for the first time this season. The Dukes had five service aces.
For the Colonials, freshman Lindsey Vernand continued her impressive efforts, posting a match-high 15 kills and 13 digs for a double-double. She led the team in attack percentage with .279.
Ruth Lazzari also contributed 14 kills and a match-high 24 digs, hitting .191 for her own double double.
Britta Stroman continued her comeback, playing in three games and tallying two kills.
The Colonials beat Saint Francis easily Friday, sweeping the Red Flash in three straight games to snap their two-game losing streak.
The Colonials out-hit the Red Flash .274 to .147. In game two, which the Colonials won 30-20, GW out-hit St. Francis .303-.034.
Lazzari was the only player in the game to collect a double double with her 11 kills and 13 digs. Junior co-captain Sarah Hokom, who at one time in the season had seven straight double doubles, notched a team-high 12 kills and added seven digs, while her co-captain, Lauren Dunning had 25 assists and scored three points on service aces.
The Colonials continue their road trip this week, traveling to Rhode Island Saturday before stopping in New York to take on Fordham Sunday.
–Jill Ersner contributed to this report
