Though the Hoyas finished with a record just over .500, Georgetown’s regular season was a great success. The Hoyas entered the weekend with their postseason fate uncertain and somewhat out of their control. They did everything they could, winning both matches against Villanova (14-15, 5-8 Big East) and Seton Hall (14-15, 6-8 Big East), but it was not enough. Georgetown finished in a tie for eighth in the league, but lost the head-to-head tiebreaker to South Florida.

Sunday was senior day for the Hoyas, and the veterans turned in huge performances as they lead Georgetown (14-13, 7-7 Big East) to victory. The match was emotional from the start, being a must-win for both teams. Seton Hall came with a big, noisy fan base that decorated its bleachers with bold signs reading “Go Pirates” and “We are Seton Hall.” In the next bleacher section over, members of Hoya Blue and other Georgetown fans matched them chant for chant.

After trailing for most of the first set, the Hoyas struggled back to even the score at 20. From there the teams traded points until a kill from junior outside hitter Jessica Hardy followed by a Seton Hall attack error resulted in a 29-27 first-set win for Georgetown. The home crowd erupted.

The Pirates opened up a 6-1 lead early in the second set, but with crafty hitting and scrambling to get into double blocks, sophomore middle blocker Vanessa Dorismond began to exhibit the impassioned play that would carry the Hoyas throughout the match. Seton Hall stayed tough, though, maintaining the lead and taking the set 25-20.

Seton Hall’s fans fed off of the win, cheering and chanting for the Pirates heading into the third set. But neither team had an advantage until the middle of the set, when the Hoyas made the move that put them ahead 16-13. Seton Hall gained momentum and pulled ahead 20-19. After a Pirate block put them ahead 21-19, both fan sections were on their feet, trying to out-yell the other. Ultimately, Seton Hall hung on to win the set 25-21.

It was do-or-die for the Hoyas in the fourth, and they found their mettle. “We definitely clamped down on them . put more focus on being disciplined,” senior middle blocker Kit Niesen said.

Aggressive serving was key for the Hoyas, and aces came at crucial moments. With the Hoyas down 15-13, freshman libero Tory Rezin hit an ace to keep them within one. On her next serve, the Hoyas tied up the score. Niesen than came up with a huge block. Blocking has been the Hoyas’ weakness throughout the year, and Williams jumped off the bench after the point.

The Hoyas took a 17-15 lead, prompting a Seton Hall timeout. But nothing could slow the Hoyas, who won the next two points to go ahead by four. After a Georgetown service error and a pair of hitting errors, the Hoya lead had been cut to one, 22-21. With the crowd standing, itching for a tiebreaker, the Hoyas converted on a 24-23 game point to force a decisive fifth set.

Williams said that junior right side hitter Kiersten McKoy was the game changer in the fourth set; McKoy was put in at outside even though she had only played the position in one match this season. “She was the link we needed,” Williams said.

In the huddle going into the tiebreaker, Williams told her team that they needed to “get it going from the start.” Instead, Seton Hall came out energized, gaining an early 5-2 edge. With the Hoyas down 4-5, Hardy dived to keep what looked like a point-ending hit in play. The ball got to McKoy, who slammed it onto the Pirates’ open court to tie up the set. The Pirates seemed rattled, handing the Hoyas the next two points with back-to-back careless errors. The Hoyas served another timely ace. With the Blue and Gray up 10-6, the Pirates rallied to close the gap to two, at 11-9. Williams called a time out, and the Hoyas won the point after it. At 14-11, match point was the ideal end for the seniors and for those who watched them grow and lead. Niesen smashed a ball set from senior setter Caitlin Boland, and before the two could really appreciate what had happened, they were enveloped by their teammates.

atch point was not the only sign that the seniors will be missed. Boland ended the match with 56 assists and Niesen with 15 kills and a .400 hitting percentage. Dorismond was spectacular, with 17 kills and four blocks. “Vanessa got more attempts than anyone, and she took care of business,” Williams said. Hardy ended with 16 kills and 21 digs.

Williams spoke to the immense leadership Boland and Niesen brought to the team, saying, “Whoever fills their shoes has very big shoes to fill. . We will miss the leadership they bring at the end of matches.”

Georgetown took care of business quickly Friday night. The Hoyas gained control of the lead at 9-8, won the following two points to extend it to three and went on a 6-1 run to claim a commanding 17-9 lead. They won the first set convincingly, 25-13.

The Wildcats started out strong in the second set. But the Hoyas kept up the attack, and won the set 25-19.

Villanova did not disappear after losing the first two sets. After being down by seven, the Wildcats came alive, cutting the Hoya lead to one, at 22-21, but the Hoyas closed out the set.

Hardy recorded a double-double, ending with 10 kills and 11 digs. Dorismond posted a .500 hitting percentage, the product of nine kills and two errors.

“It helps because they can’t just block the outside,” Williams said, explaining the importance of Dorismond and the other middle blockers. Boland started off the final weekend of her career with 31 assists and eight digs.

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