Aug. 25, 2007
Box Score
WASHINGTON, D.C. - A combined attack percentage of .381 helped lead the George Mason women's volleyball team to a 3-0 victory over the Georgetown Hoyas in non-conference action Saturday at Bender Arena. In both teams' final games of the 2007 D.C. Volleyball Challenge, the Patriots' (2-1) blistering attack, in which two players reached double-digit kills, prevented the Hoyas (0-3) from notching their first win of the season.
Unlike the Patriots' 3-0 defeat by the host American Eagles earlier in the day, Mason used an impressive 10-0 scoring run in the opening game to take a 1-0 lead. After a Kortney Robinson kill brought the Hoyas within one at 20-19, the Patriots called timeout to regroup. After the brief interlude, the Hoyas scored again to even the game at 20-20, but Mason allowed no further scoring as they rattled off 10 consecutive points to win the game.
The second game opened in a similar fashion as the first, as neither team mounted a lead greater than three points, leading up to Jourdan Dozier's kill to tie the game at eight. From there, Mason created some breathing room with a 7-1 run, pushing the score to 15-9. The Hoyas closed the gap to four at 19-15, but a Mason timeout again led to an impressive scoring barrage, as the Patriots scored a 6-1 run. Tough defense allowed Mason to protect its lead as it took the second game, 30-21.
Again, Mason capitalized on a powerful attack as it broke open a 13-13 contest in the third game with a 17-2 run, closing out the Hoyas and netting the Patriots the match victory.
Sophomore Rebecca Walter led all scorers with 17.5 points on 16 kills, while senior Jaqueline Kohler continued her excellent play through the two-day tournament, adding 13 kills. Following the end of the day's final match, Kohler was selected to the All-Tournament Team along with freshman Fernanda Bartels, as voted by the coaches. Dozier recorded a career-high six total blocks as the Patriots maintained a staunch presence at the net. Georgetown's offense was led by Robinson and Dana Dumas, each chipping in nine kills.
After finishing the weekend tournament with a 2-1 record, the Patriots will make the short trip home to Fairfax as they await their next opponent, a date with Villanova at Linn Gym on Wednesday. The match is set to begin at 7 p.m.
Tickets can be purchased at John Linn Memorial Gym the day of the match at a rate of $5 for adults and $2 for youth and senior citizens. Following Wednesday's match, the Patriots will host the Patriot Invitational on Saturday, September 1. The three-team tournament will be the final home date at Linn Gym in 2007, as the team will complete the remainder of its home schedule across campus at the Recreation Sports Complex/Field House.
The 2007 DC Challenge All-Tournament team (as selected by the coaches):
Rubena Sukaj, American (MVP)
Cassandra Ricketts, American
Claire Recht, American
Jaqueline Kohler, George Mason
Fernanda Bartels, George Mason
Chelsea Cramer, GW
Kortney Robinson, Georgetown
