Lakewood, N.J. - Exactly 437 days since they last took the floor, Georgian Court University officially kicked off its 2020-21 campaign Sunday with a season-opening twin-bill vs. east region powerhouse, Gannon University, in the GCU Wellness Center.

The Golden Knights, representing the Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference (PSAC), came away with the doubleheader sweep in a pair of hard-fought matches. The Lions kept it close in all three sets, but still finished on the the wrong end of the 3-0 first game score (20-25, 23-25, 20-25).

GCU rebounded nicely in the nightcap, grabbing a first set triumph of 25-21. In the next frame with the home team ahead by one (8-7), Gannon rallied for eight straight points to take an insurmountable 15-7 advantage, en route to 25-16 win. The two teams equaled that exact score in the third game before the Golden Knights (2-0) closed out the afternoon with a 25-21 win in the final set. 

Gannon's previous match before today took place on Dec. 12, 2019 when the Golden Knights fell to the University of Nebraska-Kearney, 3-1, in the NCAA Division II Elite Eight (Denver, Colo.). Georgian Court, the defending CACC champions, last saw action on Dec. 5, 2019 with a 3-1 setback to the University of Bridgeport in the first round of the NCAA Division II Regionals (Rockville Centre, N.Y.).

In Sunday's opener, Gannon's Lauren Sampson (Jr.-Hilliard, Ohio) paced the victors with eight kills. Laura Bebinger (Sr.-Columbus, Ohio) followed with seven smashes. Kaeli Kristensen (R-Fr.-Calgary, Alberta) distributed 14 helpers while Abby Kane (Sr.-Murrysville, Pa.) controlled 14 digs. Makenna Gavin (Fr.-Pittsburgh, Pa.) topped the team with four putbacks.

Nahomie Alejandro Negron put together a productive first outing of the year for the Lions as she provided team-highs with six kills and nine blocks. Trilby Kite dished 10 assists while Paula Cespedes, in an expanded role, settled a team-best 14 digs. 

In the the second contest, Ashley McClung (Jr.-Charleston, W.Va.) did it all as she led the Golden Knights with 22 assists, 13 kills, and a pair of service aces. The aforementioned Sampson enjoyed another solid showing with 11 more kills while falling just short of a double-double with nine digs. Kristin Schorr (Sr.-Evansville, Ind.) finished with 10 digs and eight kills. Kristensen returned to garner 19 more assists.

As for the Lions, Kayla Wilson pounded 11 kills. Faith Bennett authored her first double-double while sporting the royal and gold as the newcomer led the way with 16 assists and 12 digs. Kite added 10 kills of her own. Negron stoned Gannon with four more blocks.

GCU (0-2) will take to the road Thursday with an 8:00 p.m. showdown at Dominican College. The match will be of the non-conference variety.