Oct. 19, 2007
Box Score
FAIRFAX, Va. - Sophomore Rebecca Walter shattered her career mark with 30 kills, while senior Jaqueline Kohler's 25 kills on .400 hitting gave the George Mason women's volleyball team ample firepower to topple William & Mary, 3-2 (30-26, 28-30, 28-30, 30-28, 15-8), in Colonial Athletic Association action Friday evening at the Mason Field House.
Mason (11-8, 4-3 CAA) avenged a five-game loss in its last outing by opening the deciding game with an emphatic 10-2 run, handing the Tribe (11-10, 6-2) their second conference loss of the season.
Mason's offensive onslaught was led by Walter, who surpassed the career best of 24 kills that she set earlier this season against Lehigh. Kohler, whose 25 kills fell just three shy of her career high, notched her tenth double-double of the year with 20 digs. Freshman setter Fernanda Bartels also recorded a personal best in the match, dishing out 66 assists, a game-high.
Opening the match with an impressive 30-26 game-one victory, Mason continued its outstanding attack in the second game, but the Tribe was able to even the ledger with a 30-28 win. W&M repeated the feat in the third game, in which neither team could seem to find a consistent attack. The Tribe narrowly out-hit the Patriots in game three by a .060-to-.023 margin.
Game four continued the close, powerful tempo that had been set in place from the outset, with neither team advancing past a four-point lead. With the score tied at 26, Mason grabbed two quick points to move within one score of game point. The teams traded points, but ultimately the Patriots were able to level the score at two games apiece when Walter's kill on an assist from Bartels left the score at 30-28.
In the fifth and final game, both teams scored twice before, driven by the passionate home crowd, the Patriots scored 10 unanswered points as junior Chelsea Kropp held serve throughout. William and Mary could get no closer than five at 13-8, but a Mason timeout was followed by two Patriot kills to seal the victory.
Mason's victory tonight came in its third-straight five-game match, and the Patriots have now won four of their last five contests.
The Patriots will look to notch their second win of the weekend tomorrow night as they host Virginia Commonwealth. First serve is set for 7 p.m.
