This year’s women’s volleyball team more resembles the 16-13 team from two seasons ago than the 1999 squad that made the NCAA Tournament or last year’s team, which made an appearance in the Big East Championship. With two games left, the Hoyas are out of contention for the Big East Tournament, currently standing at sixth in a conference where only the top four of 14 advance.
“At the beginning of the season, one of our goals was to go to the Big East Tournament,” said Head Coach Li Liu. “I think we played pretty well, but it’s a concentration problem on our team. We need to do better mentally.”
On Sunday, however, Georgetown defeated Providence in its last home game of the season 3-0 (30-18, 30-15, 30-25). Sunday’s game marked the last home appearance of two four-year starters, middle blocker Anna Kleinsorge and outside hitter Lauren Warner. Both had outstanding games in the victory over the Friars. Warner, who leads the Big East in kills with 4.54 per game, had three blocks, a team-high eight digs and a match-high four aces. Kleinsorge recorded a match-high 15 kills, posted three blocks and three digs. Kleinsorge was also errorless in all three games with a .682 hitting percentage and 15 kills on 22 attempts.
“Lauren had a great year, she leads the Big East in kills,” said Li. “Anna was injured for a while, which was tough for her, but she has been working hard to come back. I wish we had her all year.”
It was a rough year for injuries on the team. At one point three of the six starters were out of action. Therefore, Li says, the team had several younger players starting and playing, most notably sophomore middle blocker Sara Albert and first-year outside hitter Natasha Nguyen.
Albert, last year’s Big East Rookie of the Year, has continued to build on her stellar first season with Georgetown, leading the Big East in hitting percentage with .402. On Sunday, she went errorless with a match-high scoring percentage of .737 and 14 kills in 19 attempts.
Nguyen broke the season record for aces against Villanova on Nov. 2. Her four aces in that match upped her total to 81 breaking Tina Schneider’s record of 80 service aces set in 1988. She is currently ranked fifth in the nation in service aces, with .83 per game. In Sunday’s game, Nguyen posted another four aces as well as three kills, five digs and two blocks.
“Natasha is a good athlete, but she needs to get more consistent and solid,” Li said.
The Hoyas have two more games to play. They’ll be on the road this weekend at Rutgers at Seton Hall, and in these games Li is looking for her younger players to step up and assume the roles that will be left for them next season.
“Lauren Warner is such a great player, and she became a dominant player her senior year,” said Li. “I’m still waiting to see who will step up. Sara Albert is a great player. She is dedicated and she will continue to do well.”
