Dec. 7, 2002

Box Score

The Patriots season ended Saturday with a 3-0 loss to Michigan State in the opening round of the NCAA Tournament in South Bend, IN. Game scores were 28-30, 13-30, 21-30.

Mason finishes the year 22-8, its best record since a 26-3 mark in 1996.

Against the Spartans, Natalia Porosa (Scarborough, Ontario) had a double-double with 11 kills and 11 digs and she hit .474. Aline Pereira (Sao Paolo, Brazil) had a team-high 13 kills and Jesica Umansky (Buenos Aries, Argentina) recorded 37 assists.

Pereira had a great opening game, recording seven kills and just one error in 13 swings, but was limited to just six more kills throughout the match.

In the first game, Mason held an early 6-3 lead, but Michigan State came back to tie the score 12-12 and took over the lead on the next point. The Spartans stretched out to a 24-18 advantage, but the Patriots scored 10 of the next 15 points to draw back to within one, 29-28, before losing on the next rally.

The second game was all Michigan State, as the Spartans turned in a rare no-error hitting effort -- 18 kills on 23 swings, yielding a season-high .783 hitting percentage -- en route to a 30-13 decision. MSU's game two performance also included strong play at the net, with the Spartans recording six blocks.

Michigan State jumped out to another big advantage in game three, leading Mason 25-13, but the Patriots won eight of the next 10 points to cut the score to 27-21. But after a Michigan State timeout, the Spartans scored a quick three points to win the game, 30-21, and take the match.