The GW volleyball team defeated Ohio rivals Dayton and Xavier on Senior’s Weekend at the Smith Center, giving the Colonials their first 20-win season in three years.

With the two hard-fought wins, GW (21-5, 12-2 Atlantic 10) jumped ahead of Xavier in the standings and finds itself in a first-place tie with Temple. Senior Tracee Brown had a combined 49 kills over the two games, while teammates Julie Jahnke and Suzana Manole provided some offensive firepower of their own. Manole earned a triple-double Saturday against the Flyers with 12 kills, 10 assists and 15 digs. Jahnke pounded 17 kills and a school record 11 block assists. She committing just one error in GW’s win over Xavier Friday night.

The Colonials host La Salle Tuesday night and Duquesne Saturday before the team heads to Dayton for the four-team A-10 Tournament Nov. 18-19. If Temple (16-8, 12-2 A-10) wins the remainder of its regular season games, the Lady Owls would once again be the No. 1 seed.

GW 3, Dayton 2Saturday, Nov. 4The Colonials held off a tough Dayton team 3-2 Saturday behind Brown’s match-high 28 kills and Manole’s triple-double. The 15-4, 15-11, 6-15, 16-18, 15-9 victory in front of family and friends gave GW a season sweep of the Flyers (16-10, 8-6 A-10). After winning the first two games, the Colonials committed 11 errors in game three, and a match-high 16 errors in the game four. But, GW was able to overcome Dayton’s momentum, pounding nine kills in the fifth game to secure the win.

GW 3, Xavier 1Friday, Nov. 3GW bounced Xavier from first place Friday with an exciting four-game win at the Smith Center. Despite an opening-game let down that gave the visiting Muskateers a 15-11 win, the Colonials bounced back to win three straight, 15-7, 15-8 and 15-9.

We played well, head coach Jojit Coronel said. Sometimes you expect a letdown (after the loss at Temple), but the Temple loss is all in the head. We always beat (Xavier), so it’s like we can beat them all the time.

The final game revealed GW’s strong team chemistry and confidence. Down 9-5, the Colonials went on an incredible 10-point run to finish off Xavier. GW used block assists from Manole and Abby Ernst to get the streak going and the team ended the match in style with an powerful kill from senior Renee Arnold.

We took it to another level, Manole said. It feels great.