Photo credit: GW Volleyball
By Matthew Brooks (@brooksie1219)
After a decent 4-5 start to A10 play GW Volleyball (7-20 4-12 A10) certainly had some struggles to work through but looked like a promising team that could do damage in the A10 tournament. But with losses this past Saturday (23-25, 25-20, 25-21, 17-25, 15-17) and Sunday (20-25, 24-26, 26-28) against the VCU Rams, the Revolutionaries extended their losing streak to eight straight matches and have been eliminated from contention to secure a spot in the A10 championship.
“I’m really proud of my team, how they’ve matured in becoming more risky with their play and trusting their training,” said Head Coach Katie Reifert.
“Just a little – a little too late in those matches.”
“A little too late” might be a good way to sum up the entire season for this team. Whether it be adjustments to blocking, back row defense, or switching up their attack, they made key improvements throughout the season. However, the execution of those improvements was often spotty or delayed until deep into the set or the match, when they were already way down and trying to mount a difficult comeback.
This weekend, the Revs once again had sets and matches come down to the last points and moments, but they were not able to come out on top.
Heading into Saturday, GW was on a tough streak within a tough streak. Within their 6 match-losing streak, they had lost 13 consecutive sets, including four straight match sweeps. That horrible streak was thankfully broken in Saturday’s match where the Revs took the second set.
Ironically, the Revs struggled this weekend on the attack, the one part of their game that for the most part has been consistently strong all season. They hit .197 in Saturday’s match and an almost identical .195 on Sunday.
The major issue they faced was dealing with VCU’s block. The Rams finished with 10 blocks in Saturday’s five-set match, and 13 on Sunday in only three sets. Aside from successful blocks resulting in VCU points, they seemed to get a piece of nearly every GW swing, which made it really tough to land kills that usually work for the Revs hitters.
A positive point from the weekend was the service line. GW finished with 15 aces across both matches. Sophomore setter Maeve Loughran led the squad with five, and graduate middle blocker Kelsey Watkins came up with four.
Senior outside hitter Elizabeth Drelling also had a nice performance to cap off her collegiate career, hitting 6/14 in Sunday’s effort. Coach Reifert noted how her effort not only left her career on a positive note but represented the program as well.
“Elizabeth played her final games in the Smith Center just ripping on every ball she touched. That is what I want GW volleyball to be known as. For her to put her stamp on the program and show her teammates, this is who we are in her last game at Smith was really special”
Before Sunday’s game, GW held a senior day ceremony, celebrating the careers of Drelling, middle blocker and team captain Markella Lanara, and right-side hitter Liv Womble. They also honored team manager Anna Rubin.
“ I consider myself lucky to have crossed paths with them,” Coach Reifert said about the seniors. “[In my] first season, we were just kind of figuring each other out, but [in] season two we know each other better. There’s a lot of trust across the board… I am eternally grateful for the work that they put in helping us grow this program.”
Despite the playoff elimination, there is still volleyball left to be played. There is one series left next weekend at Saint Louis, with matches on Friday 11/10 at 7:00 PM, and Saturday 11/11 at 3:00 PM, both broadcasted on ESPN+. And the Revs are not letting their foot off the gas.
“Every time we step on the floor, we’re representing something bigger than just this season, we’re representing this program and who we are,” Reifert said.
“We’re going to show up and try to mess up St. Louis’s season because that’s what we do.”
Besides just beating an A10 rival, she talked specifically about how going out and competing hard next week upholds the program’s values.
“Our values as a program are pride, passion, and purpose. And so pride’s a big one. So going out on a high note, going out and competing as hard as we can, and hopefully taking a couple off St. Louis. I have no question my team’s going to go out and do that and compete really hard.
As this will likely be my last volleyball blog this year, I just wanted to take a few lines to express my gratitude for the past season. I am so thankful to GW Athletics for allowing me the access that they have in a sport that typically doesn’t get season-long media coverage from a beat reporter. Getting to know Coach Reifert and this team has been an absolute pleasure, and I’m thankful to her and the team for letting me talk to them after games and tell their stories.
There were quite a few moments where I thought I was probably insane covering 15 GW volleyball matches live and in person, including an overnight away trip to cover both games at Fordham (I’ll never forget the looks of shock on the players’ faces when they saw me sitting at the media table in Rose Hill). And I probably am insane for doing that, there is simply no one covering volleyball this extensively at this level yet.
But I have absolutely no regrets, I’ve had an absolute blast every step of the way, and if you engaged in any amount of my coverage this year I hope you enjoyed it.
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