Oct. 31, 2008

Box Score

BOSTON - Junior Rebecca Walter led the George Mason women's volleyball team with 10 kills but the first-place Northeastern Huskies garnered a three-set sweep over the Patriots, with set scores of 25-18, 25-21, 25-20, in Colonial Athletic Association action on Friday evening at Solomon Court.

Mason fell to 6-17 and 2-8 in the CAA following the match, while NU improved to 8-1 in the conference and 13-9 overall.

The Patriots were out-hit by a .273-to-.108 margin but did hold a powerful advantage at the net, outblocking the Huskies, 8-to-3. Junior Laura Turner tallied four total blocks to lead the Mason effort along with a match-high two aces as well, while freshman Katrina Boryc led the team with nine digs. Lauren DeTurk had 15 kills to lead the Huskies.

Northeastern broke open a 7-7 tie in the first set with two straight points to take the lead for good, despite Mason pulling within a point on two separate occasions. Mason opened the second set with three straight points, but NU had a 4-0 run of its own to take the lead. The two teams traded the next four points as the Huskies retook the lead with a 7-1 run to open its advantage to six points. Maintaining that margin at 20-14, Mason furiously charged back into the set with six unanswered points to tie the score. However, NU scored five of the next six to end the Mason threat and take a two-set lead into the intermission.

Once again, the teams were close through much of the third set as the lead never grew larger than three points, until a 4-0 run by the Huskies broke a 16-16 deadlock. Mason could advance no closer than three points the rest of the way as Northeastern finished off the sweep.

The Patriots continue their road trip on Sunday with a 1 p.m. match at Hofstra.