By: Nick Lolis
George Washington Volleyball (2-4) defeated Georgetown (1-5) in their third match
this Saturday. It’s the first win GW has achieved against another D.C. team.
The Revolutionaries started the match with intense momentum, winning the first two
sets in spectacular fashion.
The first set was won 25-14, with 17 total kills and a .536 hitting percentage. The momentum
stayed with GW throughout the second set, as the team won 25-19, with both teams scoring 12
kills.
Georgetown owned the third set, winning it 25-15 to force a fourth set to end the game.
“Georgetown put the pressure on in that third set,” Head Coach Katie Reifert said. “You know,
just reminding my team that we have a lot of good that worked already for two sets straight, and
reminding them to put themselves back in that place and keep with what’s working.”
George Washington won the fourth and final set 25-21, with a final hitting percentage of .230, 46
kills, four blocks, and a total of 58 points to Georgetown’s 54.
GW Center Dilara Elmacioglu ’28 sustained a foot injury in the first set and had to be carried off
the court. She returned to the bench in the second set with her foot in an elevated position.
The Revolutionaries were clearly motivated to win the match against their friendly rival. “It’s
always fun to play the crosstown rivalries,’ Coach Reifert said. “Year-by-year, all the teams are
really competitive, and we’re all really different. It’s really fun because we all love each other
and the girls know each other.” The team played the match with much intensity and focus, but
shared smiles and friendly encounters with the Georgetown players in between plays.
Team Setter Abby Markworth ’28 ended the game with an astonishing 29 assists, while Middle
Blocker Cianna Tejada ’25 scored personal records of 14.5 points, 12 kills, and a .458 hitting
percentage in one match. Coach Reifert spoke on the new dynamics of this season’s team.
“We’ve got a lot of new people playing in different roles. Last year we had two senior pins,”
Coach Reifert said. “This year we have all sophomores and our pins, which obviously comes
with some hurdles, with some learning curve. They’re doing a great job, and I think we’ve got a
lot of senior leadership in our middle position and our setter position and our libero position,
which really helps balance that.”
Coach Reifert is optimistic about the team’s future. “I feel like this team, they’re really bought
in, and, you know, they’re working out their kinks and how to talk to each other, and I think that
it won’t be long until they’re really rolling and doing some good things.”
The Revolutionaries are slated to play a home match against the University of Maryland,
Baltimore County, in the Battle of the Beltway this coming Friday.
