University of Tennessee Athletics
University of Tennessee
9-3
George Washington
6-7
Vols Defeat George Washington to End GW Invite
September 17, 2016 | Volleyball
WASHINGTON, D.C.-- The Tennessee volleyball team fought off a late George Washington rally in the third set for 3-0 (25-22, 25-17, 27-25) victory at Charles E. Smith Center to conclude the GW Invitational.
Sophomore Erica Treiber came up with three kills in the final five points of the match as the Vols (9-3) fended off two set points in the third to defeat George Washington (6-7).
The Vols eventually took at 26-25 lead in the third with senior Bri Holmes serving for match point. The point took 40 seconds with both teams coming up with saves before Treiber sent a winner down the middle.
Treiber finished with a season-high 14 kills, hitting .500 with an ace and two blocks. Freshman Tessa Grubbs had 12 kills, and freshman Sedona Hansen had 41 assists and seven digs.
The GW Invitational marks the final weekend before the start of SEC play. The Vols return home to host Mississippi State on Sept. 23 at 7 p.m. and Georgia on Sept. 25 at 1:30 p.m.
The Vols trailed 16-15 midway through the first set but reeled off three points in a row to go up 18-16 on back-to-back kills by Tessa Grubbs. The Vols led the rest of the set and Grubbs -- who had seven kills in the set -- recorded a kill to seal the opening frame, 25-22.
Tennessee broke away from George Washington midway through the second set, winning eight of 10 points at one stretch to go up 15-8 on a kill by Alyssa Andreno. The Vols scored six unanswered points later in the set to take a 22-12 lead, and Stephanie Buss eventually ended the set 25-17 with a kill from the right side.
The Vols hit .300 in the second set while holding George Washington to .121.
The Vols fought off two set points in the third set, one on a cross-court kill by Treiber, the second on a net infraction by George Washington. Another kill by Treiber, this time down the middle, put Tennessee up 26-25 to bring up match point.
The Vols hit .385 for the match, including .459 in the third set. George Washington hit .260, only the second team that has hit above .250 against the Vols this year.
NOTES
- Tennessee starters: Sedona Hansen, Erica Treiber, Britney Vallez, Alyssa Andreno, Raina Hembry, Bri Holmes and Bridgette Villano as libero. It is the fifth time in six matches the lineup has been used.
- While the non-conference tournament season is over, the Vols have one last non-conference match: a road contest against Troy on Oct. 5 (7 p.m.). In that match, the Vols will be going for double-digit non-conference wins for the seventh time in the Rob Patrick era.
- The Vols are now 5-1 all time at the George Washington Invitational, having gone 3-0 in 1993.
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