Oct. 10, 2008

Box Score

ATLANTA - After nearly pulling off the sweep, the George Mason women's volleyball team earned its first conference win of the year as it topped Georgia State, 3-1, on Friday evening in Colonial Athletic Association action at the GSU Sports Arena. Set scores were 25-23, 25-22, 24-26, 25-13.

Mason improved to 5-12 on the year and 1-3 in conference play, while the Panthers fell to 1-16, 1-3 in the CAA.

The Patriots, who had lost two of their first three CAA matches in five-set heartbreakers, held a .221-to-.156 hitting advantage over the course of the match despite being out-hit in the first three sets, and out-blocked the Panthers by a 10-to-7 margin. Leading the Mason cause was junior Rebecca Walter, whose 18 kills were a match high. Freshmen Kelly McCarter and Noelle Fanella each chipped in nine kills apiece to help pace the Patriot attack, while senior Jourdan Dozier led all players with five total blocks.

Reigning CAA Player of the Week Ashley Jones led the Panthers with 17 kills and was joined in double figures by Michelle Trimble who added 10.

Mason led for most of the first set, expanding its advantage as large as five after breaking open a 3-3 tie. However, GSU mounted a comeback to ultimately tie the score at 23, but a Panther service error and a Patriot block from Dozier and McCarter sealed the set victory.

Another close battle ensued in the second set, and while the Patriots held the led for most of the set once again, the Panthers took the lead at 20-19 with six unanswered points. The teams traded the next two points, but with the score locked at 21, a Walter kill and Fanella ace put the Patriots in position for a set point. Georgia State did cut the gap to one, but two straight Walter kills off assists from sophomore Fernanda Bartels gave the Patriots a commanding two-set lead heading into the intermission.

Out of the break, it was the Panthers who struck first, scoring the opening five points of the third set. They would preserve their lead until the score was tied at 11 after a 7-1 run put the advantage in Mason's hands. The two teams continued to battle, and it was the Panthers who pulled out the close victory as they came back from a 22-20 deficit to force a fourth set.

The fourth set was dominated by the Patriots, as a tight margin was blown open by a 8-0 Mason run to end the contest, giving Mason its first win in eight tries.

Mason will look to continue climbing the CAA standings on Sunday when the Patriots travel to UNC Wilmington for a 1 p.m. tilt against the Seahawks.