Aug. 23, 2006

FAIRFAX, Va. - While George Mason's women's volleyball team will open the season on the road, the trip will be a short one as the Patriots are scheduled to begin their 2006 season this Friday with a 7 p.m. match against American University at Bender Arena in Washington, D.C. as part of The D.C. Volleyball Challenge.

Four universities from the local Washington, D.C. area will take part in the two-day tournament, hosted by American on Friday and George Washington on Saturday. Competing in the tournament along with Mason will be American, Georgetown and George Washington. In addition to Friday's match, the Patriots will play two matches on Saturday, against Georgetown at 11 a.m. and George Washington at 7 p.m.

The Eagles, who went 25-10 overall and appeared in the NCAA Tournament last season, will present a tough challenge for Mason in its season opener. American was picked to finish first in the Patriot League's preseason poll and have won the league title each of the past five seasons, losing only one match in Patriot League play since 2001. The team has added seven newcomers to a lineup that already includes four All-Patriot League selections from last season.

Mason returns three key starters from last season's team in senior middle blocker Chantal Bodkin-Clarke, senior middle blocker Janelle Wilson and junior outside hitter Jaqueline Kohler. Bodkin-Clarke led last year's team in hitting percentage (.266) and blocks per game (0.96) and tied for the team lead in total blocks with 72. She tied for the team lead in that category with Wilson, who set a career-high with 149 kills and finished second on the team to Bodkin-Clarke in hitting percentage (.177). Kohler led the team in kills (307), kills per game (3.41), points (345.0) and points per game (3.83), while also setting career highs in digs, blocks and service aces.

Joining the returning players is a talented group of newcomers including freshman setter Katie Corcoran (Allentown, Pa./Allentown Central Catholic), freshman middle blocker/opposite hitter Laura Turner (St. Louis, Mo./Ladue Horton Watkins), freshman middle blocker/opposite hitter Sam Simmonds (South Australia, Australia/Mitcham Girls High School) and freshman outside hitter Rebecca Walter (Monbulk, Victoria, Australia/Monbulk College High School).