WASHINGTON – The Duquesne volleyball team came close in the second and third sets, but George Washington ultimately topped the Dukes in three  consecutive sets, (25-17, 25-23, 25-22) on Saturday night at Charles E. Smith Center.

The second set featured eight tie scores and five lead changes, while the third set featured seven tie scores and a pair of lead changes.

Summer Slade led the offense with nine kills, while Ego Onu connected on six and Morgan Kelly added five. Hailey Poling dished 13 assists, while Dani Suiter distributed 12 helpers.    

Defensively, Larson led the squad with 19 digs, while Slade (11) and Boe also reached double-figures in the category. Liz Wayne supplied five blocks on the night.

Duquesne returns home to Mt. Lebanon High School on Friday, Oct. 25, when the Dukes host VCU. Match time is set for a 7:00 p.m. start.

HOW IT HAPPENED

• The Colonials raced to a 4-0 lead in the opening set, before the teams would trade points. With Duquesne trailing 13-7, the Dukes got back into the set with a 5-0 stretch, featuring kills from Wayne, Onu and three Colonial attack errors. The Dukes got back within a single point at 15-14, but GW got back ahead with a 6-0 sprint to take a 21-14 advantage. The Colonials would earn four of the final seven points, to take a 1-0 lead at 25-17.  
• After Slade tallied a kill on the first point of the second set, GW posted a 5-0 run. After both A-10 foes traded points, the Dukes rallied off a 5-0 run to tie the set at 9-9. The Dukes retook the lead at 11-10 and grabbed a 15-11 edge following a 6-2 surge. GW fought back with four consecutive points to tie the set at 15-15, but a Colonial service error gifted the Dukes back the lead at 16-15. Four points from the Colonials gave GW a 19-16 advantage. With GW holding a 20-17 edge, the Dukes countered with a 4-0 run that featured kills from Onu and Slade, as Duquesne grabbed a late lead at 21-20. GW grabbed the lead from Duquesne at 22-21. Duquesne tied the set at 22-22, but a Colonial kill and a Duke attack error lifted GW to a 24-22 advantage. The Dukes earned a point on GW's set-point, but the Dukes couldn't avoid an attack error, as GW earned a closely fought 25-23 set two victory.
•  The Dukes sprinted ahead with a 5-1 run to begin the third set, but the Colonials eventually tied the set at 7-7. The two squads traded points back and forth for the majority of the set. A service error and a kill would lift GW to a 23-20 advantage late in the set. The Dukes would rally with a kill from Slade and an attack error to come within one point at 23-22. The Colonials would earn the final two points of the match, as back-to-back kills gave GW the match at 25-22.
• Duquesne and George Washington each tallied 59 digs. GW led in kills (38-29), aces (12-2), blocks (10-9) and assists (34-27).