LAKEWOOD, NJ (Oct. 7, 2026) - It took more than two hours to complete, but Georgian Court Volleyball never quit to earn their first CACC win of the season, taking down Chestnut Hill 3-2. After going up 2-0, the Lions suffered a demoralizing blow in game four, but showed the mental fortitude to bounce right back and take game five and the match.
How it Happened
• Some of the numbers are off the charts. The match featured 200 total digs and 400 total attempts. The Lions picked up 102 of those digs while Chestnut Hill hit 210 of those attacks.
• GCU landed 63 kills to the Griffins 58 and were also helped out by 35 Griffin attack errors.
• Georgian Court's defense was more than just a dig-fest with nine blocks in the match. Chestnut Hill blocked just two Lion attacks.
• The Lions led big time in attack percentage .232-.110 and led in four of five sets.
• On the service line, each team hit 11 errors. The Griffins scored six aces and the Lions five.
Set 1
• The first two sets looked like Georgian Court was going to run away with a possible sweep.
• Georgian Court sided out at 73% and the the Griffins to a .050 hitting percentage.
• Chestnut Hill actually scored the first three points, but after the Lions took an 8-7 lead, the never trailed again.
• Tied at eight, GCU went on a 10-3 run to pull away from Chestnut Hill, started by a
Flavia Pecora kill and back-to-back service aces.
• Chestnut Hill never got closer than within five and the Lions started the match with a 1-0 lead.
Set 2
• Georgian Court was only getting better throughout the second set.
• The Lions hit .333 with 14 kills to three errors, while the Griffins hit .000 with eight kills and eight attack errors.
• Leading by two, 8-6, Georgian Court dropped the hammer with a 7-1 run to got up 15-7.
•
Kyla Davis started the run with a kill and
Ziahna Frazier hit back-to-back kills and forced a CHC timeout.
• The pause in the action didn't slow down the Lions and they cruised to a 25-14 set two win.
Set 3
• While it appeared like GCU would breeze to a three-set win, Chestnut Hill had other plans.
• Set three featured eight ties and six lead changes.
• Still tied at 14 is when the Griffins pulled ahead for good.
• They scored three straight, capped off by a service ace for a 17-14 lead and a Georgian Court timeout.
• The ace was the Griffins first of the game and the first the Lions had allowed since set three against Post, a span of more than five straight sets.
• It was also an unlucky aces, that ticked off the tape on the top of the net and fell in.
• Georgian Court never recovered after getting down and the Griffins stayed alive with a 25-21 win.
Set 4
• Neither team gave an inch in set four which is why it went beyond 30 points to determine a winner.
• Things looked good early for the Lions who led 15-10 and 19-15.
• Chestnut Hill stormed back though with a 5-1 run to tie the set at 20.
• The scored was tied at every point from 20-30 as both teams gave everything they had.
• Four times Chestnut Hill held off set point and the Lions stayed alive three times.
• Even libero
Carmen Rivera Colon got in on the scoring with an ace to put the Lions up 25-24.
• For as dramatic of a set as it was, it ended in the least dramatic way possible as GCU was called for being out of rotation on the serve, handing the Griffins a 32-30 win.
Set 5
• What could have been a gut-punch of a loss in set four, was anything but.
• Georgian Court responded just how you want by scoring six of the first seven points in set five to take a commanding early lead.
• Chestnut Hill chipped away at the lead and eventually got to within two, 12-10.
• An attack error gave the Lions the ball back and
Ava Churnesky finished Chestnut Hill off with back-to-back kills for points 14 and 15 and the match win.
Lion Stat Leaders
• It was a 20-20 day for
Keira Mullen who hit 20 kills with 22 digs.
•
Ava Churnesky recorded a double-double as well with 19 kills and 17 digs.
•
Carmen Rivera Colon picked up 35 digs and was 34-35 on serve reception.
•
Maggy Hallihan passed out 36 assists with 12 digs.
•
Kyla Davis scored seven kills and six blocks.
For the Griffins
• Rachel Mace matched Rivera Colon with 35 digs.
• Macayla Lindner scored a game-high 22 kills and was a dig-short of a double-double.
• Alex Crespin chipped in 19 kills and 20 digs.
• Sofia Rodriguez dished out 50 assists with 10 digs.
News and Notes
•
Carmen Rivera Colon recorded her 100th career service ace.
•
Keira Mullen surpassed 200 points this season.
•
Ava Churnesky recorded her 50th career block.
• The Lions 102 digs are by far their most this season. Their previous high in 2026 was 78.
• The last time GCU had even 90 digs in a match came in 2019.
• The last time they had at least 100 was 11 years ago to the day also against Chestnut Hill when they had 111.
• Georgian Court went more than five straight sets without allowing a service ace before the Griffins landed one in set three tonight.
• GCU put back nine blocks for the second straight game.
Up Next
• Georgian Court will look to make it three in a row this weekend as they host Dominican Saturday, Oct. 10 at 3:30 pm.
