UDC Women’s Volleyball Team Splits at the UDC Women’s Volleyball Tournament, Beginning the Season 3 – 1.

Washington, DC – The UDC Women's Volleyball team closed out the UDC Women's Volleyball Tournament today with a win over Goldey Beacom College 3-1 at 4:00pm.  Earlier in the day, the Firebirds fell to LeMoyne College 3-1.  The Firebirds stand at 3-1 in the early stages of the season.

In the first match the Firebirds fought hard but ultimately fell to the Dophins 3 – 1.  LeMoyne came out on top in the first set 25 – 18.  The Firebirds rebounded strong in the second set winning 25 – 21.  LeMoyne then took control in the third set, winning 25 – 13.  The Firebirds responded yet again in the fourth set taking a 24 – 19 lead late in the set.  But the Firebirds were unable to close out the set as the Dolphins charged back, tying the game at 24.  The late rally in the fourth set by the Dolphins was made possible by three straight points on acrobatic digs by the back line.  The set was up for grabs at 24 and 25 until LeMoyne ultimately gained control by a score of 27 – 25. 

In the second match against Goldey Beacom, the Firebirds came out victorious by a score of 3 – 1.  In set number one, UDC gained control early and held on to win 25 -  18.  The Firebirds remained steady in the second set, controlling the set early, but the Lightning mounted a valiant comeback tying the game at 21.  The Firebirds were able to pull away at the end scoring 4 unanswered points to close out the set 25 – 21.  In the third set, the Firebirds again jumped out to an early lead, but the Lightning were able to close the gap tying the game at 21.  Both teams battled back and forth as the game was tied at 22, 23, 24, and 25 until Goldey Beacom was able to pull away with a 27 -25 win.  The fourth set was more of the same as the game was tied numerous times before the Firebirds were able to seal the match 25 – 22.

The offense was paced by a number of Firebirds on the day: junior outside hitter/ middle back Vanessa Garley (Rio Rancho, NM – Rio Rancho HS) (24 kills, 18 digs in two games), junior right side/ outside hitter Kelsey Boyd (Regina, SK, Canada – Sheldon HS) (24 kills, 22 digs in two games), and senior setter/ right side Grace DeMichelis (Aurora, CO – Overland HS) (20 kills, 36 assists in two games).  A strong effort was also turned in by Freshman Kamene Rose (Chula Vista, CA – Hilltop HS) (22 digs, 42 assists in two games).  In the first match of the day, the defensive front was lead by Junior libero Grace Perilli (Lewisburg, WV – Independence HS) (16 digs in only 1 game).  Libero Grace Perilli sat out the second game of the day against Goldey Beacom as a precaution due to injury, but Freshman libero Basheerah Abdusshahid (Washington, DC – Wilson HS) (9 digs) filled in admirably in Perilli's absence.

The Firebirds return to action on September 9^th and 10^th in Huntsville, Alabama as they take on Alabama Huntsville, Henderson State, West Georgia, and Harding.