George Washington University

Oct. 7, 2009

Box Score

RICHMOND, VA -- After winning the first two sets and dropping the next two, the GW Volleyball team had to come from behind in the fifth set to edge Virginia Commonwealth, 3-2, Wednesday night in Richmond. GW won by the scores, 25-23, 25-20, 21-25, 16-25, 15-11 in just over two hours at VCU's Siegel Center. The victory was GW's eighth in its last nine outings.

GW senior Katie Butz led four Colonials with double-figure points and kills with 15.5 points on 15 kills while sophomore MacKenzie Knox hit her career-high .667 with 13 kills in 18 attempts with just one miscue. Senior Abby Syverson also had a strong match with 10 kills, four blocks and nine digs for 16 points. Junior Leah Hill added 12 kills and 13 points. Freshman libero Candace Silva-Martin added a match-high 30 digs and an ace.

VCU (13-7) was led by Michala Kvapilova's match-high 19 kills and .432 hitting percentage while while Lenka Melicharkova led the Rams with 24 digs.

The match featured a total of 13 lead changes and 28 ties. The first set was played close and tied at 23-23 on a kill from Leah Hill. Syverson then served an ace and Hill added a kill for the 25-23 game-winner. The Colonials fell behind early in set two before taking the lead for good at 8-7 on a kill by Knox. GW never trailed again en route to the 25-20 triumph.

The third set signaled a momentum shift in the match with VCU asserting itself for a 25-21 victory. The fourth set was all VCU from the outset as the Rams raced out to a 7-1 lead and breezed to the 26-16 rout setting the stage for the decisive fifth set.

VCU took a 7-4 lead on a kill by Ivana Rich prompting GW to call a timeout to regroup. Following the break, the Colonials and Rams traded points until GW was able to tie the set at 11-11. A VCU attack error gave GW just its second lead of the set. Syverson slammed a kill to put GW up, 13-11 and force VCU to use a timeout. GW then scored on a kill from Syverson to win the set and match, 15-11.

The Colonials expanded their lead to 14-3 in the all-time series with VCU dating back to the 1976 season.

GW (13-5, 3-1 A-10) returns to conference action on Friday when it visits No. 21 Saint Louis for an 8 pm (EDT) match followed by a flight to Pittsburgh to face Duquesne on Sunday at 1 p.m.

For more news about GW Athletics, visit www.GWsports.com.