EAST STROUDSBURG, PA. (Sept. 19, 2025) - Georgian Court Volleyball started their first of three games this weekend at the East Stroudsburg Tournament Friday night. The Lions, who swept Queens in their home opener 10 days ago, had a much more difficult time with the Knights. Queens was able to defeat GCU in five sets, 25-17, 15-25, 25-22, 23-25, 10-25.

How it Happened
• Georgian Court had a much more difficult time with the Knights this time around, as they hit .234 to the Lions .182.
• Queens was able to put back 11 blocks to Georgian Court's six to gain valuable points.
• Service numbers also favored the Knights. Although GCU hit one more ace, 9-8, they also hit 14 service errors, nearly three per set.

Set 1
• Georgian Court got off to a red-hot start in the match. They scored the first six points, getting three kills and two service aces with Iciar Zayas scoring three points.
• Another 4-0 run with an Ava Churnesky service ace and Genesis Simanca kill made it 16-4 Lions.
• Queens made a bit of a run of it late, but Georgian Court was able to cruise to a 25-17 win in set one for a 1-0 lead.
Set 2
• The teams were trading points at the outset with neither gaining much of a lead.
• GCU scored three straight and a kill from Kyla Davis made it 7-6 Lions.
• Queens kept things close and down one, 12-11, the Knights scored seven straight to take a stranglehold on the set, 19-11.
• The Lions weren't able to get much closer and the Knights evened the match, 25-15.
Set 3
• In a pivotal game three, Queens took an early lead, 12-9.
• Trailing 12-9, Georgian Court scored six straight with three Ava Churnesky kills to go on top, 15-12.
• The Lions held the lead the rest of the way and took a 2-1 lead following an Addison Wellington kill for a 25-22 win and a 2-1 lead in the match.
Set 4
• Looking for the win, Georgian Court took a 3-0 lead in set four, helped out by a pair of Knight attack errors.
• GCU was still up three, 8-5, when the Knights came back to tie things at eight.
• Georgian Court scored four straight to reclaim a 13-11 lead.
• The Lions were still up two, 20-18, but the Knights finished set two scoring seven of the final 10 points and stole set four, 25-23, to force a fifth set.
Set 5
• The teams went back and forth at the start of set five.
• Neither team led by two and a kill from Emma Gildea brought the Lions back within one, 11-10.
• Queens ended things though with three kills and a block, scoring the final four points for a 15-10 win in set five and 3-2 win in the match.

Lion Stat Leaders
• Genesis Simanca had another double-double with 12 kills and 14 digs. She scored four aces as well.
• Ava Churnesky landed a team-best 14 kills and three service aces. 
• Addison Wellington his 13 kills on 32 swings.
• Iciar Zayas passed out 45 assists with four kills and seven digs.
• Carmen Rivera picked up 20 digs to lead the Lions.

For the Knights
• Kylynn White hit .424 with 17 kills and nine digs.
• Jayna Marie Lorenzo led the Knights with 28 assists and also had six kills nad seven digs with four blocks.
• Maya Angelova had six kills and six blocks.
• Alexis Stoehrer had a team-best 15 digs.

Lion Stat Leaders
• Carmen Rivera surpassed 800 career digs.
• Queens pulled to within 10-9 in the all-time series. 
• Addison Wellington's 13 kills are a career-best and the first time she's hit double-figure kills.

Up Next
• Georgian Court has two more matches tomorrow. They play Southern New Hampshire at 1:30 and are scheduled for East Stroudsburg at 6:30 pm.