Sept. 22, 2007
Box Score
HARRISONBURG, Va. - In their first conference match of the season, the George Mason women's volleyball team forced James Madison to bend, but ultimately could not break the Dukes as JMU earned a 3-1 (30-28, 30-23, 29-31, 32-30) victory over the Patriots on Saturday in both teams' CAA openers.
In front of 370 fans at Sinclair Gymnasium, the Patriots (7-6, 0-1 CAA) proved they could hang with the Dukes (8-5, 1-0) as neither team took a lead greater than seven points in the match. Senior Jaqueline Kohler netted her seventh double-double with 17 kills and 12 digs. Sophomore Rebecca Walter nearly matched the feat with 15 kills and 12 digs on the afternoon. Classmate Laura Turner also reached double figures in kills with 10 to complement her six total blocks. For the Dukes, Allyson Halls led with 19 kills.
In both of the first two games, the Dukes' powerful attack proved too much for the Patriots, as they outhit Mason by a nearly 200-point margin in both games. While the Patriots were one point away from game point at 28-28 in the first game, they could not match that performance in the second game, as the Dukes never trailed en route to taking a 2-0 lead in the contest.
However, the tables turned in Mason's favor in the third game, as the Patriots held a .179-to-.083 advantage in attack percentage, preventing the Dukes from the sweep with a 31-29 win. Leading at one point by as many as seven points at 15-8, James Madison worked its way back into the game and eventually tied the game at 29. Two errors by the Dukes allowed Mason to notch the victory.
Mason could not even the ledger at 2-2 though, as the Dukes narrowly outlasted the Patriots, 32-30, to take the win.
Mason returns home next Friday when it will host Delaware at John Linn Memorial Gymnasium at 7 p.m. Tickets are available at Linn Gym on the day of the event, and cost $5 for adults and $2 senior citizens. As part of Youth Night, youth under 18 get in for just $1 and will receive a Mason School Pack.
Friday's match against Delaware is also the Broadside Game of the Week, and all Mason students will receive a free Mason tote bag. Following the contest, Mason volleyball players will be holding an autograph session.
