VCU volleyball takes lesson and learning in home loss to Georgetown

Jim Swing
Assistant Sports Editor

After a long awaited initial home game of the 2010 season, the VCU volleyball team returned to a warm homecoming from fans and spectators in its matchup against Big East powerhouse Georgetown Hoyas (7-5) Tuesday night. Despite being led by a strong charge from senior Mariel Frey (Lititz, Pa., Manheim Twp.) who tallied 17 kills and nine digs, Georgetown rallied from a 2-1 deficit to defeat VCU, (25-23, 22-25, 22-25, 25-20, 15-9).

The Hoyas jumped out to a quick lead in a tight first set that caught VCU by surprise. The momentum quickly shifted however when the Rams took the following second and third sets hitting .400 and .444 including a Game 2 that saw six lead changes and 12 tie scores throughout the contest. Kristin Boyd (Wilmington, N.C./John T. Hoggard High) fought her way back into the game in the third set after struggling early, posting a .670 hitting mark and taking over the game temporarily.

VCU would struggle to contain the momentum in the fourth set hitting .029 and allowing Georgetown to jump ahead for the five point win knotting the match at a 2-2 standstill. In the deciding and final fifth set the Hoyas hit .375 while the Rams displayed a lackluster .048 hitting mark allowing Georgetown to jump out to a 3-0 lead in which VCU would fail to redeem giving up the match 3-2.

“We didn’t play like we should have,” said Frey. “It’s frustrating, we didn’t play nearly as well as we’d liked to.” Frey, who is evolving into a team leader, hit .277 while adding nine digs and three blocks on the night for the Rams.

In a game where VCU struggled with consistency on ball control and opportunities sophomore Marisa Low (Carlsbad, Ca./Carlsbad High) still managed to contribute 21 digs and three assists. “We didn’t take advantage of all the missed serves Georgetown made,” head coach James Finley said. “I do however think the communication stayed and they played hard which is what we are really looking for right now as out team continues to grow.”

Regardless of the disappointing outcome of Tuesday’s game, Finley admits there is comfort in being back at the Stuart C. Siegel Center. “It’s so good to be at home, it was awesome,” said Finley. “I think it was really good for the girls and I was so thrilled with the crowd, we have such great support as usual.”

Following nine of the Rams first 10 matches having been on the road, the team will embark on a trip to Colorado this weekend to take on a four-game out-of-conference arrangement including No. 14 ranked Colorado State tonight in preparation for in-conference play starting next Friday versus Northeastern.

“Our goal was to play some of the toughest competition in the country so our weaknesses would be exposed and we would learn how to play better with our young players and not just depend on being athletic,” said Finley. “I think we’ve made some great strides with out-of-conference play and the process has been very good but we still have a long way to go.”