PHILADELPHIA – The University of Pennsylvania volleyball team opened the Sheraton University City Invitational on Friday night with a 3-0 loss to George Washington. Set scores were 25-13, 25-16, 25-16.
 
The other two matches on Friday were thrilling five-setters, Temple opening the event with a 3-2 win over Providence (24-26, 25-17, 14-25, 25-22, 15-11) and then GW roaring back from a 2-0 deficit to knock off the Friars in five (23-25, 15-25, 25-17, 25-16, 15-10).
 
Quaker Notemeal
*Senior Autumn Leak came off the bench in the second set and ended up leading Penn with seven kills.
 
*Freshmen Abigail Reid and Anna Shohfi led the Quakers with 11 and 10 digs, respectively. Shohfi also had 12 assists while Reid and classmate Claire Deller had two service aces each.
 
How It Happened
George Washington was playing its second consecutive match after a pulsating, five-set win over Providence but no matter. The Colonials set the tone for this match early, scoring seven points in a row to quickly go out in front 9-2. The lead was double digits at 13-3, and while Penn was able to halve that deficit when Shohfi's service ace made it 17-12 GW quickly righted the ship with the next four points to cruise.
 
The visiting Colonials then went out 9-5 in the second set, but Penn recovered as Leak took the court and immediately made her presence felt. She had two kills in a row, the start of a 4-1 run that made the score 11-10. However, the GW net defense then took over as three blocks played a role in a 10-1 run that gave the guests more than enough cushion.
 
Penn came out of the break inspired, and when Leak killed it was 7-3 and the Palestra fans were getting into it. Just like that, though, GW came alive. A Penn service error was followed by a pair of Colonials service aces, the start of a seven-point run that flipped the score and put the guests in front by three. From there it grew to five, at 14-9, and after Penn scored a pair of points to get back within three GW put this one to bed with seven unanswered for a 21-11 advantage en route to the sweep.
 
Up Next
Penn is back in action two more times Saturday at The Palestra to conclude the Sheraton University City Invitational. The Quakers will face Providence College at 11 a.m. and Temple at 5 p.m. In between, Temple will face GW in a neutral-site match.