WASHINGTON, D.C. – La Salle volleyball (1-0) opened its season by defeating George Washington (1-5, 0-3 A-10) in a thriller on Friday evening, 3-2. The victory is the Explorers' first over the Colonials in the nation's capital since September 30th, 2007. 
 
A number of Explorers headlined for the Blue & Gold. Redshirt sophomore Sarah Nahas tallied a personal-best 52 assists, five aces and two blocks to go along with 14 digs. Senior Samantha Graver and junior Elizabeth Osborn joined Nahas with double-doubles of their own – Osborn recording a career-high 27 kills. And freshman Isa Lopez, in her collegiate debut, tallied 29 digs – the most by a freshman in their collegiate debut dating back to 2006.
 
HOW IT HAPPENED

• La Salle jumped out to a 5-1 lead to open the first set and maintained a small cushion until about halfway through the frame. At 15-12, the Colonials proceeded to go on a brief run to tie it up, after which the set was back-and-forth until the teams were locked at 22-22. Three consecutive kills by the home side sealed the set.
• Neither side separated itself to begin the second, but Osborn was leading the offensive charge for La Salle. Three straight kills from her gave the Explorers a 9-7 lead. When George Washington returned fire to put itself up 17-15, Osborn chimed in with a timely kill that kickstarted an Explorers run. They rattled off five more points to take a 21-17 advantage. The hosts answered with four unanswered to tie it; Graver and Osborn battled back to help the Blue & Gold take the set.
• The Colonials started off hot in the third, advancing up 8-4. A few aces from Graver and a couple of kills by Osborn spurred an Explorers' retaliation of six straight points. George Washington fought back, but another La Salle run of five points gave the away team a 16-11 lead. The Colonials closed the gap, the Explorers answered back and soon found themselves at set point, 24-19. George Washington wouldn't go away, however, and benefited from some miscues to tally seven straight points and take the set.
• As expected, the two teams were neck and neck and the fourth set was no different. La Salle and George Washington parried to a 12-12 deadlock, which was broken by an Explorers' surge of five straight points. The Colonials came as close to within two after that, but with La Salle up 24-22, Osborn killed their hope of taking the match in four.
• In the fifth frame, the visitors started with the lead (an Osborn kill, if you will) and never allowed the Colonials to get in front. George Washington did tie the set on a number of occasions. It was to-and-fro at 6-6, 7-7 and 8-8; however, La Salle claimed six of the next nine points to make it 14-11. An unique match made for a unique ending as the home team rallied with three points. Freshman Yaiza Franco struck to put it at match point, George Washington answered back, and then two attacking errors sealed the win for the Blue & Gold.

 
INSIDE THE NUMBERS

• Osborn was pivotal in this match. The first three kills of the game for La Salle came from her swing as she set the tempo. She then had nine kills in the second set, six in the third, five in the fourth and four in the fifth, adding up for a career night. She tallied back-to-back kills five times. Her 16 digs also tied a career best. 
• Double-double club: as mentioned, three Explorers stuffed the stat sheet. Osborn had 27 kills and 16 digs, Graver finished with 19 kills and 15 digs and Nahas totaled 52 assists and 14 digs.
• Rookie watch: Lopez immediately showed off her defensive skillset with 29 digs to only one reception error all match. Franco finished with three kills, including the crucial point in the final frame.
• As a team, the Explorers out-killed the Colonials 67-57 and out-assisted them 62-52. They also were more deadly with their serve, recording 11 aces to the hosts' six.

 
COACH'S THOUGHTS

• Head coach Andrew Kroger was left impressed by the performance of his team on Friday evening, reflecting: "I couldn't be prouder of the effort by our team tonight. The resilience shown by this group is remarkable. Our matches against George Washington are always tight and hard-fought. For this young group to find a way to win in our first match of the season shows the great leadership our upperclassmen have provided. Lizzy Osborn and Isa Lopez had incredible performances that have set the bar for the rest of the season. We're excited to get back at it tomorrow evening."

 
UP NEXT

• La Salle sees George Washington once more on Saturday. The match begins at 6 p.m. and airs on ESPN+.