Nov. 14, 2008

WASHINGTON, D.C. - WASHINGTON, D.C. - The Georgetown University volleyball team (12-13, 5-7 BIG EAST) hosts Villanova (14-14, 5-7 BIG EAST) on Friday night at 8 p.m. in the first of two BIG EAST matches that will conclude the regular season for the Hoyas. GU will also host Seton Hall (14-13, 6-6 BIG EAST) on Sunday at 2 p.m. in the season finale.

On Friday, GU will honor the 10th anniversary of the 1998 BIG EAST regular-season champion Georgetown volleyball team, as members of the team, including Meg Mullen, Melissa Tytko-Andretta, Kaili Stevens and Yulia Vyturina are expected to be on hand. On Sunday, the Hoyas will celebrate senior day as Caitlin Boland (Naperville, Ill./Benet Academy) and Kit Niesen (Gainesville, Fla./Eastside) will be honored for their four years with the team.

Boland leads the Hoyas in assists with 696, averaging 8.92 per set, good for ninth in the BIG EAST. Boland's 2,910 career assists ranks third all-time in Georgetown history.

Niesen leads the Hoyas with 68 total blocks this season, averaging 0.86 per set. She has led the squad in three of her four years on the Hilltop. Niesen also is third on the team with 181 kills, with a team-leading .277 hitting percentage.

The Hoyas will look to snap a four-match losing streak, with the final two matches critical for a chance to make BIG EAST Tournament, a dramatic turnaround for a team that went 5-27 in 2007.

The Blue & Gray will have the luxury of playing at McDonough Arena where they have been 7-2, winning 22 of the 28 sets played in their home gym. Friday's opponent, Villanova has lost three of its last four, but comes off a five-set home victory over Syracuse.