FAIRFAX, Va. - Fresh off its first conference win of the season against Towson last Saturday, the George Mason women's volleyball team will play a pair of road matches this weekend as the Patriots look to improve to an over-.500 record in the Colonial Athletic Association.

Mason (8-7, 1-2 CAA) will square off against the Hofstra Pride (9-7, 2-1) on Friday night at 7 p.m. The Pride owns a 12-7 advantage in the all-time series between the two schools, and Mason will be looking for its first win against Hofstra since November 12, 2004, a 3-0 victory in Fairfax.

Hofstra is led by outside hitter Lauren Engle, who leads the Pride in points with 266.0, as she is averaging 3.82 kills and 2.23 blocks per game. Last weekend, Hofstra split its CAA weekend matches, sweeping Georgia State on Sunday in Atlanta after being handed a 3-0 defeat at UNC Wilmington.

On Sunday, Mason will do battle with Northeastern (10-10, 2-1) at 1 p.m. on Solomon Court. The Huskies hold a 5-1 lead in the all-time series, and have never lost to the Patriots as a member of the CAA dating back to 2006. Lauren DeTurk is currently pacing the Husky offense with 264 kills.

Mason is led offensively by the dual offensive threat of sophomore Rebecca Walter and senior Jaqueline Kohler. Walter, who garnered MVP honors at the Patriot Invitational last month, leads the team with 215 kills. Kohler, named Mason's Female Athlete of the Month this week, is close behind with 212 kills. She has averaged a double-double this year, with 14.8 kills and 11.4 digs per match.

Defensively, senior libero Kristen Byler has shined with 192 digs, including 22 last week against Delaware, tying a season-high. Junior Jourdan Dozier has been a stalwart presence at the net in 2007, with 64 total blocks. On Saturday against Towson, Dozier fell one short of tying the school record with 12 total blocks in the match.

Following the road trip, the Patriots return home to Fairfax next weekend when they face James Madison on Friday, October 12 at 7 p.m. in the Recreation Sports Complex (Field House).