WASHINGTON, D.C. – For the third straight game La Salle (8-10, 2-4) went five sets, but this time saw its comeback bid fall just short to George Washington (10-9, 4-2). The game will be remembered mostly on two points. First, senior Kathryn Wood surpassed the 4,000-assist mark with 53 against the Colonials, becoming only the second Explorer in program history to do so. Second, the resiliency of a La Salle side that once again found itself down two sets to none only to fight back and force a fifth. Unfortunately for the Blue & Gold, the same magic that was present against Villanova wasn't quite recreated in D.C.
 
HOW IT HAPPENED

• The Colonials began the more positive of the two sides, opening up a 10-5 lead in the early going. La Salle would eventually battle and tie things at 18-18, even taking the lead at 21-19, but a 6-2 finish by George Washington gave the home side the set.
• Again, it was George Washington on the front foot, beginning 6-2. However, the Explorers would level the score much earlier in the second frame at 10-10, even embarking on an 8-3 run later that gave them a five-point lead. The visitors held their lead until they were up 22-18; at that point the Colonials rattled off five straight. Despite La Salle responding well and taking the following two points to force match point, George Washington refused to concede the set and finished on a 3-0 run.
• The third frame was tightly contested in the early going; La Salle made the first real move when it opened up a 12-6 advantage. After that, the Colonials were never allowed back into the set: The closest the home side would come was within five points. The Explorers particularly pressed their advantage when, up 17-12, embarked on a 6-1 jaunt that effectively gave them the third.
• Momentum remained with the Blue & Gold into the following set with La Salle jumping out to 10-6 start. That gap proved ephemeral as the Colonials quickly got back into the game, but the Explorers remained ever so slightly in the lead, by one or two mostly, until the later stages. La Salle was up 18-16 when George Washington went on a four-point run, which the Explorers quickly responded to tie things at 20-20. The Colonials took the next four of six to set up game point, but La Salle hit for three straight to take the lead back. The home side again went on a brief run that put things at game point, and again the Explorers answered back, this time definitively. A 4-1 spark at the end gave the visitors a 29-27 fourth set victory.
• A 5-3 start for La Salle in the final set evoked memories of the comeback against Villanova the weekend before, but the Colonials would not allow it. A seven-point barrage from the hosts quickly put the Explorers in a hole. The Blue & Gold could only claim two of the following six points and suddenly it was game point down 14-7. Three straight for La Salle gave reason to hope, but George Washington killed the comeback.

INSIDE THE NUMBERS

• The big number of the night is 4,000. That is the amount of assists Wood surpassed in her career, putting the setter in rarefied air. Only Molly Thatcher (1999-2002) has ever provided more in a La Salle uniform, and her all-time mark of 4,309 is under threat. Wood stands at 4,025 assists with eight games remaining.
• Double-double club: Wood and junior Samantha Graver yet again finished with double-digits in two categories. For Wood, 53 assists and 12 digs mean she has a double-double in three straight games and 10 overall this season. For Graver, 12 kills and 24 digs amount to four-straight games with a double-double and a team-high 12 in the campaign.
•  Four Explorers recorded double figures in kills on the night. Senior Devin Corah paced the team with 15, followed by classmate Catherine Edgington on 14, freshman Marisa Guisti with 13 and Graver on 12.
• A quartet of Explorers also finished with double-digit digs. Graver led the way with 24, proceeded by freshman libero Rachel Hess on 22, redshirt freshman Sarah Nahas with a career-high 17 and Wood on 12.
• Block assist: Although not necessarily a blocking team this season, plenty of Explorers showed up in front of net against the Colonials. Guisti headlined the group with a dominant performance; her nine total blocks is the highest by any Explorer this season. She was followed by junior Reilly Lowe on five, Corah with four and three Explorers with two.
• La Salle had the edge in most categories against George Washington, including points, kills, aces, assists and digs. The Blue & Gold's hitting percentage of .165, although not great, still surpassed that of George Washington's .136.

UP NEXT

• The Explorers will look to bounce back at George Mason on Saturday night. They'll be in Fairfax for a 7 p.m. start.