LAKEWOOD, N.J. (Sept. 8, 2022) - Georgian Court Volleyball got back on the winning track with a 3-0 sweep in a highly competitive match with Kutztown. All three sets were determined by the minimum two points with the Lions coming out on top in all three 26-24, 25-23, 26-24. For the Lions it's their third win of the season.

How it Happened
• The set scores were close, but the Lions held big advantages in most statistical categories. They outhit the Golden Bears .242-.191 and more than doubled them in blocks, 9-4.
• GCU also landed seven service aces while scoring 40 points on kills.
• The opening set saw 10 tie scores the most in any of the three sets. Neither team held more than a four-point lead at any point in the set, which was the Lions up 8-4.
• That 8-4 Lion lead was followed by an 8-4 run for Kutztown to tie the score at 12-apiece. The two teams went back and forth the rest of the way, neither team going up by more than two. After regaining the lead, 16-15 following a Kutztown attack error, the Lions never trailed again. Tied at 24-all, the Lions took advantage of two Golden Bears errors to claim the opening set, 26-24. The Lions were outhit in the set, but four Golden Bear service errors proved to be the difference.
• Set two saw a series of swings in each teams favor. GCU jumped out to a 5-1 lead, getting a pair of kills from Nylene Mateo. Kutztown though responded with a 10-4 run to take an 11-9 lead. Back-to-back Iciar Zayas service aces gave the Lions the lead once again, 14-12. They held that lead all the way until the Golden Bears tied the set at 20-20. Three straight Kutztown points turned a 20-18 Lion lead into a 21-20 deficit. Tied again at 22, Chelsea Ross reclaimed the lead with a kill and a block from Emma Gildea and Amiyah Woods put GCU at set-point. Kutztown got one back, but Mateo ended the set with her seventh kill of the frame, 25-23.
• Georgian Court hit .276 for the set, their highest of any set, with 12 kills against just four errors. GCU also scored five service aces and five blocks. 
• It was another back-and-forth affair in set three. Once again the largest lead any team carried was four points when Kutztown led 8-4. GCU though quickly answered with an 8-3 run to take their first lead, 12-11. During the run, Kutztown committed six errors leading to GCU points. The Golden Bears clawed back and at 16-16, went on a 4-1 spurt to take a three-point edge, 20-17. Chelsea Ross though answered the call for GCU, scoring a kill and helping out on a pair of blocks as the Lions got back even at 21. Kutztown looked to take the match to a fourth set, but three consecutive kills, two from Mateo and one from Gildea capped off the sweep in GCU's favor.

Lion Stat Leaders
• It was another double-digit kill performance from Nylene Mateo, finishing with a game-high 19. She was more economical with her swings, with just 35 attempts for a .514 attack percentage. She also came one dig away from a double-double.
• Iciar Zayas filled out the stat sheet. She tallied a game-best 25 assists while also landing two kills, four service aces, and corralled seven digs.
• Jana Borkovic picked up 11 digs defensively.
• Emma Gildea finished with nine points, five kills and six block assists. 
• Amiyah Woods and Chelsea Ross each had five kills and four blocks.

For the Golden Bears
• Sadie Doss led the team with 14 kills, nine of which came in the first set.
• Adrianna Derstine also was in double-figures with 13 kills.
• Derstine and Doss each finished with seven digs as well.
• Lexi Morrow and Alandra Hasbrouck shared setting duties. Morrow led the team with 19 assists, Hasbrouck picked up 12. 

News and Notes
• The Division II leader in kills per set, Mateo averaged 6.3 in this one. She's now up to 6.23 kills per set on the season with 171 total kills.
• Mateo's .514 hitting percentage was the highest for a Lion this season as was the team's .242 hitting percentage for the match.
• Also with a single-match high this season was Emma Gildea with six blocks. The Lions nine total block was also a team-best this season.
• Iciar Zayas has set a season-best with four service aces. She has at least one ace in seven straight matches and eight of nine this season.
• Chelsea Ross made her first appearance since August. She knocked back a season-high five blocks. 
• It's the second time this season the Lions have held an opponent below a .200 hitting percentage. 

Up Next
• The Lions season-long six-match homestand concludes Tuesday, Sept. 13. They'll take on Chestnut Hill at 6 p.m. in the CACC opener.