Sept. 13, 2008

Box Score

DAVIDSON, N.C. - George Mason head women's volleyball coach Pat Kendrick became the 46th active coach with 400 career victories on Saturday afternoon as the Patriots defeated Davidson, 3-1 (25-18, 25-14, 15-25, 25-23), on the second day of the Wildcat Classic. Mason (4-5) won its third-straight match after opening an early two-set lead and holding off the Wildcats (2-6).

Kendrick, a 1982 Mason graduate ranks 46th among active coaches in total wins with 400 victories in 24 seasons at the helm of the Patriots. She is the longest-tenured coach in the Colonial Athletic Association and ranks eighth in win total among NCAA Division I head coaches who coach at their alma mater.

Mason was led by double-digit kills from juniors Rebecca Walter and Laura Turner, who chipped in 11 and 10, respectively. Davidson had two double-digit scorers as well with Sarabeth Peele and Kittery Neale registering 16 and 14 kills each.

Both teams were even in the first set before Mason broke open a 14-14 tie with a 4-1 run to take the lead for good, an advantage that grew as large as seven points when Walter served an ace to end the set. The Patriots kept their momentum going into the second stanza, opening with six unanswered points and never relinquishing the lead in a dominating set win. Mason held a commanding .353 to -.107 hitting advantage in the set.

Davidson fought back in the third set, as the Wildcats maintained their lead throughout as they cut the deficit in half. Their attack percentage jumped to .469 while Mason's fell to .174. However, in a fourth-set battle, Mason outlasted Davidson to take its third and final set win and give Kendrick the milestone victory.

Kendrick and the Patriots will look to complete a perfect 3-0 weekend in the Tar Heel State later in the afternoon when they face the Charlotte 49ers at 4:30 p.m.