Oct. 26, 2004

Box Score

Over the past four seasons, teams that faced the George Mason women's volleyball team knew what to expect - lots of Aline Pereira. This year when teams face the Patriots, there's no telling which poison they will have to deal with.

Natalia Porosa is one of the top hitters in the CAA, Jesica Umansky is one of the top setters and Niki Bernardes has a devastating serve. Throw in the contributions of first-year players Jaqueline Kohler and Chantal Bodkin-Clarke and the steadying influence of veterans Zulma Rojas and Janelle Wilson and the damage can come from any quarter.

On Tuesday night, in a match against George Washington, it was Bernardes' turn to step up. The junior outside hitter had a game-high 13 kills and three service aces along with 13 digs as the Patriots handed the Colonials their school-record ninth-straight loss, defeating George Washington, 30-25, 30-24, 35-33.

Bernardes entered the match 28th in the nation in service aces per game a 0.56 average. She had three aces in three games on Tuesday while hitting .286. Umansky, the co-CAA Player of the Week, was at the top of her game as well, with seven kills and no errors on eight attacks, 37 assists, seven digs, two block assists, one solo block and three service aces. Rojas added 14 digs, Porosa had 10 kills and 12 digs and Bodkin-Clarke had five kills, two solo blocks and three block assists.

The Patriots (11-7) fought from behind in the final set, overcoming a 29-27 deficit to extend the game and ultimately close out George Washington (4-17) in straight sets. The Patriots will look to continue the winning streak this weekend when they travel to James Madison on Friday (7 p.m. start) and Virginia Commonwealth on Saturday (5 p.m.).