This past weekend, the Georgetown volleyball team (14-10, 6-5 Big East) came away victorious from two five-set thrillers on the road, defeating Seton Hall (14-11, 5-5 Big East) Friday, 25-13, 25-20, 21-25, 24-26, 15-11, and Rutgers (8-19, 1-9 Big East) Sunday, 25-17, 25-18, 21-25, 23-25, 15-13.

With the two victories, the Hoyas improved from 10th to seventh in the current Big East standings and put themselves in a better position to make the upcoming Big East tournament in Milwaukee, Wisc.

In the first match of the weekend, the Blue and Gray jumped all over the Pirates early by building a 12-2 lead in the first set. They never looked back. The second set proved to be more of a struggle — the score was tied 11 times — but the Hoyas pulled away by taking five straight points to overcome an 18-16 deficit.

Seton Hall, however, came out of the intermission fighting and was able to capitalize on Georgetown’s weak .114 hitting percentage in the third set. The fourth set was back-and-forth throughout and featured four lead changes and nine ties, but with the score knotted at 24, the Pirates took the next two points to finish the set.

The fifth and final set was once again a struggle for both teams, but the Hoyas emerged victors after winning the final three points, the last two coming off kills from freshman outside hitter Alex Johnson.

The win called upon every member of the Blue and Gray, who hit an impressive .267 collectively. Georgetown out-dug the hosts, 88-61, and out-blocked their opposition, 15-9. Individually, Johnson led the Hoyas with 24 kills, while middle blocker and fellow freshman Dani White added 16.

Senior setter Ashley Malone contributed offensively and defensively, posting match-highs in digs (23), assists (48), and hitting percentage (.538). However, much of the spotlight belonged to senior libero and captain Tory Rezin, who, with 17 digs, became Georgetown’s new all-time dig leader and solidified an outstanding career.

After a short ride down the New Jersey Turnpike, the Hoyas returned to action on Sunday against Rutgers. A leaky roof at Rutgers’ College Avenue Gym caused the match to be moved to a side court, where Georgetown fought off another comeback attempt to take the match in the fifth set.

In the first set, the Scarlet Knights jumped out to an early 6-3 lead, but the Hoyas responded with six straight points and did not lose the lead again in the set. The Blue and Gray further elevated their play in the second set, posting a .438 hitting percentage and winning the set to go up, 2-0.

But like Seton Hall, Rutgers was able to regroup at intermission and captured a tightly contested third set. The fourth set was again close, but the Scarlet Knights won six of the last eight points to force a fifth set.

The deciding set went to the Hoyas, as junior middle blocker Lindsay Wise closed out the battle with one of her 13 kills.

Malone turned in another phenomenal performance for Georgetown, notching 46 assists and posting an outstanding .714 hitting percentage. Johnson led the way in kills with 17, and Rezin and freshman libero MacKenzie Simpson each recorded 12 digs. The Hoyas again were able to out-block their opponents en route to victory.

The Blue and Gray will try to extend their current four-game win streak and solidify a spot in the Big East tournament when they head to Tampa, Fla. to take on South Florida (9-14, 5-5) Sunday.