Aug. 29, 2003

FAIRFAX, VA ... George Mason University women's volleyball team (0-2) was defeated in its opening matches of the 2003 season at the Brion's Grille/Doubletree Patriot Invitational earlier today at the John Linn Gym on the campus of GMU against George Washington and Southwest Missouri State.

The Patriots dropped a five-game decision to George Washington (30-28, 18-30, 30-24, 24-30, 13-15) in the opening match of the two-day Invitational with senior Aline Pereira (Sao Paolo, Brazil) leading the Patriots with her first double-double of the 2003 campaign. Pereira recorded 28 kills and 12 digs, while senior outside hitter Milena Racic (Pozarevac, Yugoslavia) collected 12 kills and 13 digs for GMU. Senior Ruth Lazzari led the way for GWU with 17 kills and 16 digs, while senior Sarah Hokom notched 17 digs, along with 11 kills for the Colonials.

In the second match of the day, Cincinnati defeated Southwest Missouri State in four games (33-31, 30-27, 21-30, 29-17) with junior Julie DuPont collecting match-highs in both kills and digs with 23 and 15, respectively. Senior Erin Murphy led the way for SMS with 20 kills and matched senior Leah Johnson's effort with 13 kills.

Following Cincinnati's win, Georgetown went on to defeat Fairfield with scores of 30-24, 30-24, 24-30, 30-28. Sophomore outside hitter Ashley Lancaster led Georgetown with a double-double of 15 kills and 11 digs, while junior Julie Grauert collected a match-high 19 digs for the Hoyas. Sophomore Casey Machon amassed a team-high 15 kills for the Stags, while senior Kristin Anderson collected 13 kills.

George Washington notched its second win of the day with a defeat over Cincinnati (35-33, 31-29, 17-30, 30-24) in the fourth match of the day. Senior Laura Harrison dished out a team-high 15 kills, while Hokom amassed 16 digs for the Colonials. DuPont and sophomore Lindsey Garrison collected match-highs in kills (23) and digs (26), respectively for the Bearcats.

Mason closed out the day with a four-game loss to SMS by scores of 21-30, 19-30, 30-27, 28-30. Sophomore outside hitter Natalia Porosa led the Patriots in both kills and digs with 19 and 16, respectively, while Pereira collected a team second-best 18 kills. Senior Linette White dished out a match-high 20 kills, while Johnson amassed a match-high 19 digs for SMS.

The Invitational will resume at 10 a.m. on Saturday (8/30) with Cincinnati facing off against Fairfield at the John Linn Gym on the campus of GMU. The Patriots will resume action at 12:30 p.m. against Georgetown and will close out the Invitational against the Bearcats of Cincinnati at 8 p.m.

2003 Brion's Grille/Doubletree Patriot Invitational Results
George Washington def. GEORGE MASON (30-28, 18-30, 30-24, 24-30, 13-15)
Cincinnati def. Southwest Missouri State (33-31, 30-27, 21-30, 29-17)
Georgetown def. Fairfield (30-24, 30-24, 24-30, 30-28)
George Washington def. Cincinnati (35-33, 31-29, 17-30, 30-24)
Southwest Missouri State def. GEORGE MASON (21-30, 19-30, 30-27, 28-30)