William and Mary won two of three matches at the Georgetown Hoya Classic this weekend, improving their record to 7-3 on the year.
Sophomore outside hitter Lindsay Kresch was selected to the all-tournament team, notching 2.55 kills per set and 2.36 digs per set for the Tribe while junior middle Ginny Bray’s defensive dominance earned her the Colonial Athletic Association Defensive Player of the Week.
Friday night, the Tribe opened against host Georgetown. After falling behind 9-2 to start the first set, the College managed to tie the set at 16-16 with help from Kresch after three consecutive kills. The Hoyas quickly took back the lead, eventually winning the first set 25-21.
In the second set, the College kept up with Georgetown, but the Hoyas proved to be too much, pulling out a close 5-23 victory.
Down 9-5 early in the third set, the Tribe recorded eight straight points to pull ahead 13-10 before securing the third set with a 25-18 margin. The College rolled in the fourth set, dye to a 14-3 run, winning 25-11 to the match at two sets apiece.
The Tribe used its momentum to open up a 7-0 lead behind senior libero Lindsey Pflugner’s service in the third set. The College cruised to a decisive 15-5 set for the 3-2 match victory.
Head Coach Melissa Shelton said the turnaround after the first two sets was due to “bigger plays at better times.”
Bray set a career mark with 12 blocks against the Hoyas. With Bray’s 10 kills, the junior recorded her first double-double on the season.
“Bray had a great weekend – we expect that from her,” Shelton said.
After the College’s lengthy five-set match Friday night, the Tribe was blown-out by Maryland Saturday morning 3-0.
“Our setting was way off.” Shelton said. “Maryland was blocking well.”
Saturday evening the College squared off with Hampton, a school which had failed to beat the College in thirteen all-time meetings. That tradition would remain in tact as the Tribe won 3-0 in dominating fashion behind senior hitter Lauren Powell’s 9 kills and 9 digs. Sophomore Brooke Bauernfeind added 9 kills and 7 digs in the win.
With their 2-1 record on the weekend, the Tribe took home third place and will travel to Dallas, Texas this weekend to compete in the SMU Challenge, a tournament that Shelton called the toughest of the season to date.
The Tribe is set to face Texas State, Syracuse and SMU over two days.
