Oct. 18, 2008
Box Score
FAIRFAX, Va. - After taking set one, the George Mason women's volleyball team dropped the next three in a 3-1 loss to the University of Delaware on Saturday evening at the Field House. Set scores were 16-25, 25-15, 25-21, and 25-16.
Mason (6-14, 2-5) was led by nine kills from junior Sam Simmonds and 15 digs from freshman Katrina Boryc. Senior Jourdan Dozier led the Patriots at the net, chipping in seven total blocks. Delaware (10-13, 4-3) was paced by 19 kills from Kim Steward and 16 kills from Katie Dennehy, while Stephanie Barry had 22 digs.
The Patriots dominated much of the opening set, breaking a 6-6 tie with five of the next six points to take command of the scoreboard. The Patriot lead grew as large as eight on four separate occasions before Mason took set one at 25-16, thanks to a 6-to-1 blocking advantage and outhitting the Blue Hens by a .182 to -.048 margin in the opening stanza.
It was the Blue Hens who broke loose early in the second set, though, as they scored four in a row to break a 4-4 tie. Mason responded with a 4-0 run of its own, including a pair of aces from senior Chelsea Kropp, to tie the score again. However, a quartet of Delaware points returned the lead to the Blue Hens for good. UD held a .333-to-.030 hitting advantage in the set.
Delaware again jumped out to an early lead in the third, opening on a 7-1 run. Mason moved as close as two points at 9-7, but UD responded with three points to open the gap further. The Patriots did mount another charge late in the set, as they pulled within three at 22-19, but after two Delaware points, the Blue Hens converted their third set point to take the 2-1 advantage in the match.
The fourth set was more of the same for the Blue Hens, matching their 7-1 run after scoring the set's first five points. However, the Patriots could move no closer than five in the set as the Blue Hens controlled Mason as they held a .308 to -.103 advantage in attack.
Mason will look to return to the win column next weekend when it visits VCU on Friday and William & Mary on Saturday evening, opening a three-match road trip.
