6th-ranked Tigers sweep #12 Saint Xavier

Georgetown Head Coach Andrew Palmer wanted to test his team early in the season as part of the long haul story of the season. Match 2 of the year saw the Tigers battle the 12th-ranked Saint Xavier Cougars. Test number one was passed with flying colors as the Tigers swept the Cougars, 25-16, 25-21, and 25-21.

Efficiency was the story early for the Tigers once more. After having a 12-0 kill-error ratio in set 1 against Culver-Stockton, the Tigers nearly duplicated the feat against SXU with a 9 kill, 1 error first set and a .571 hitting percentage. Conversely, SXU committed 7 errors in the set, which became a theme throughout. Georgetown did what good teams do and take advantage. The Tigers cruised to a set 1 win by 9.

Set 2 tightened up as Georgetown had some errors of its own come into play. Six errors in the set allowed Saint Xavier to hang in and lead at various points in the set. Late in the set, after a Tiger attack error, Coach Palmer called a timeout to regroup with his team trailing, 21-19. The move proved to be perfect timing along with the substitution of serve specialist LC Newton. Out of the timeout, Georgetown went on a 6-0 run to steal the 2nd set, 25-21, and go up 2-0 in the match.

The Tigers carried the momentum early into set 3 by scoring 6 of the first 8 points, forcing Saint Xavier to burn an early timeout. The Cougars hoped the momentum would swing back in their favor as it did for the Tigers at the end of the 2nd. SXU got back within 2 at 7-5, but would get no closer. Georgetown would respond and extend its lead back out to 16-10. Saint Xavier would not go down without a fight, showing its worthiness of a #12 ranking. With Georgetown on the verge and leading 23-18, the Cougars would score 3 straight to make it 23-21, Georgetown. Enter LC Newton once more to serve for the match and a final block from Tyree Wesley and the Tigers closed the match out, 25-21 in the 3rd.

While the sets were tight, Georgetown was aided by 22 serve errors and 19 attack errors by Saint Xavier in the match, but the Tigers were also to take those free points and sustain leads throughout the day. Finn Heinemann remained the table setter for the Tigers offense with 21 assists, while also tallying 7 digs on defense. Ryan Gunn finished with 9 kills, and CJ Bride had 10 digs.