On Saturday the Georgetown women’s volleyball team (6-11, 0-5 Big East) extended its losing streak to 11 in a four-set loss at home to Villanova (8-10, 3-2 Big East).
Georgetown trailed the Wildcats throughout the first set; the Hoyas were out-blocked, out-aced, and committed more than twice as many hitting errors. Sophomore outside hitter Alex Johnson, usually a standout attacker, had a record low hitting percentage of -.300, with four errors and one kill on 10 attempts. In the end, Villanova easily took the first set 25-19.
In the second set Head Coach Arlisa Williams moved Johnson to the back row and put in junior outside hitter Brooke Bachesta to take her place.
The switch worked. Bachesta racked up five kills in the set that, when coupled with some successful serving runs by sophomore libero MacKenzie Simpson and junior outside hitter Elizabeth Riggins, led the Hoyas to a convincing 25-18 victory in the second set.
“Brooke came in off the bench and was able to hit at a higher contact point for us on the outside,” Coach Williams said of the substitution. “Defensively and passing wise, Alex is one of our best passers. Alex has a whole lot of game and can hit a lot of different shots, but if it’s not there Brooke hits at a much higher contact point and if she can see the block, she can hit around it.”
Bachesta, who has been cheering from the bench the past couple of games, was glad to make a difference.
“I’m happy that I was able to come in and make a contribution and give Alex a break because I know it can be exhausting when you’re the primary hitter all the time,” she said.
Unfortunately, the spark of the second set fizzled as the game progressed. The team dropped the final two sets 25-20 and 25-18.
Nevertheless, Coach Williams recognized that the team is improving. “We played better today. We took care of the ball in places that we needed to,” she said. Faster setting by junior Haley Lowrance led to better kill totals from senior middle blocker Lindsay Wise and junior opposite Annalee Abel, at 10 and seven respectively. Blocking, too, improved, as the Hoyas managed 11 team blocks against the Wildcats.
Still, a loss is a loss. When asked what the team will need to do to end the losing streak, Bachesta said “Staying confident and composed in the last five points. It’s just all about finishing the last couple points.”
Johnson agreed. “Push at the end and realize that these last six to seven points, which are where we usually struggle, are the most important. We can play all game but we really just need to pick it up in the last few points,” she said.
The Hoyas will look to implement those changes as they hit the road against Pittsburgh on Oct. 12 and USF on Oct. 14 before returning home to battle Notre Dame on Oct. 19.
