Oct. 24, 2008
Box Score
RICHMOND, Va. - Three Patriots reached double figures in kills but it was not enough for the George Mason women's volleyball team as it fell 3-1 at Virginia Commonwealth on Friday evening in Colonial Athletic Association action at the Siegel Center. Set scores were 25-17, 25-20, 20-25, 26-24.
Mason dropped its third-straight match as it fell to 6-15, 2-6 in CAA play, while the Rams improved to 13-8, 5-2 in the conference.
Junior Rebecca Walter led the Mason attack with 13 kills and was joined in double digits by freshman Noelle Fanella and junior Laura Turner, who chipped in 11 and 10 kills, respectively. Elisa Kuehnel led all scorers with 15 kills for the Rams.
Mason, which was out-hit by a .216-to-.174 margin in the match, fell behind from the opening whistle as the Rams opened on a 5-0 run. The Patriots narrowed the gap to two points at 8-6, but an 8-2 run by VCU put away Mason in the set for good.
The second set again began with a VCU run, as the Rams scored four of the first five points before Mason answered back with three in a row to tie the score at four. Both teams remained close for the duration of the set, as there were five lead changes and neither squad led by more than five points, the difference which proved to be the final margin as the Patriots headed to the break with a two-set deficit.
The Patriots managed to slice the VCU lead to just one set following the third frame, one in which the Patriots held a .242-to-.171 attack advantage. It was Mason who opened with the big run this time, blasting out of the start with a 5-1 run. The Patriots would not again trail in the set, though the Rams moved within one on numerous occasions and, clinging to a 22-20 lead, Mason tallied three points in a row to end the set.
VCU won the fourth set and the match by the slimmest possible margin, as it was the closest of the four stanzas in the match. Remaining close throughout, Mason faced match point at 24-22 but responded with two straight Walter kills to tie the score. However, VCU responded with two kills of its own to seal the victory.
Mason will look to return to the win column on Saturday evening when it faces CAA foe William & Mary at 7 p.m.
