Box Score
La Salle vs. George Washington Box (PDF)

PHILADELPHIA – The Explorers were back in action on Friday evening, as they looked to crack the win column for the first time in Atlantic 10 conference play. Standing in their way were the scorching hot George Washington Colonials, who stymied the Explorer offense all evening en route to the straight sets victory (25-15, 25-17, 25-10). Junior Jennifer Whelan and freshman Phoebe Cook both notched 5 kills for the Blue & Gold. Junior Rachel Melich led the Explorers with 12 assists.

La Salle hoped to exact revenge on George Washington (9-10; 4-1 A-10), who had defeated La Salle in straight sets exactly one week ago down in Washington D.C. The Colonials had other ideas, as they entered the match on a three-match conference winning streak. The Colonials hallmark this season has been excellent defense, and they flexed their muscles yet again this evening stymieing the Explorer attack before it could establish their rhythm. George Washington outhit the Explorers .354 to .022, on the strength of an 11-7 team block advantage and a 44-19 advantage in digs.

The match started innocently enough for the Blue & Gold, as they traded the sets first 8 points with freshman middle hitter Ashley Felton notching two early kills for the Explorers. The Colonials regrouped to take four of the next five points to take an 8-5 lead, but the Explorers battled back with four of the next five of their own, on the strength of two kills by junior middle hitter Jennifer Whelan, to tie the set score at 9 apiece. It was at this point that George Washington began to find their offensive rhythm. The Colonials strung together a 9-1 run to take control of the set at 18-10. While the Blue & Gold attempted to mount a rally, it was quickly neutralized on a solo block followed by a kill from Colonial freshman Loren Williams. George Washington cruised to the set victory, as the Explorers fell 15-25.

The middle frame began competitively as well, as the teams traded punches in the early going. George Washington put together the first significant scoring streak of the set, stringing together a 4-0 run to jump out to a 9-4 advantage. The Blue & Gold rallied to take three of the next four points, on kills by Felton and Cook paired with a block by Whelan and Kuhlmeier. However, another big Colonial scoring streak, this time an 8-3 run, put the set out of reach for the Explorers at 18-10. Although the Blue & Gold attempted to make a rally, closing the gap to five at 20-15 on a kill by Whelan, the deficit proved too much to overcome, as the Explorers dropped the second set 17-25.

With their backs against the wall, La Salle could not gain any offensive traction in the decisive third set. The Colonials quickly jumped out to an early 6-0 advantage, notching 3 blocks in the process, prompting a La Salle timeout. The breather seemed to calm the Explorer offense as they rallied to take the next two points, however, an ensuing 8-2 run quickly took the wind out of the sails of the Explorer rally bid. George Washington sprinted to the finish, as the Explorers fell in the third set 10-25.

Junior Jennifer Whelan and Freshman Phoebe Cook co-led the Blue & Gold attack with 5 kills apiece. Cook hit the ball well, striking at a scintillating .333 clip. Whelan added 2 block assists.

Senior Rachel Finkbeiner played a solid game at the net front notching 3 kills (.111) and 4 block assists.

Junior Rachel Melich led the Blue & Gold with 12 assists and also added a service ace, while sophomore Michelle Healy added 9 helpers.

Sophomore libero Erin Noga led the Explorers with 8 digs.

La Salle (1-24; 0-7 A-10) returns to action next Friday evening, as they travel to Saint Louis to take on the Billikens.