Sept. 13, 2008
Box Score
DAVIDSON, N.C. - After providing head coach Pat Kendrick with her 400th win earlier in the afternoon, the George Mason women's volleyball team was unable to complete an undefeated weekend in North Carolina as the Patriots fell to Charlotte in five sets on Saturday evening. Set scores were 20-25, 25-23, 25-21, 19-25, 15-13.
Freshman Noelle Fanella recorded the first double-double of her Mason career with 11 kills and 10 digs, while she was joined in double-figure kills by juniors Rebecca Walter and Laura Turner who added 14 and 13 kills, respectively. Sophomore Fernanda Bartels recorded a double-double as well, totaling 36 assists and 15 digs. Charlotte's offense was paced by 16 kills from Kaitlin Knight.
Walter and Turner were both named to the Wildcat Classic All-Tournament Team for their efforts on the weekend. Walter tallied 43 kills and 22 digs in the three-match span, while Turner recorded 30 kills and 12 total blocks.
In the Patriots' first five-set match of the 2008 season, the two teams were evenly matched throughout. Mason jumped out to a 7-1 lead to begin the match and held on to the lead for the duration of the first set to set the tone early.
However, Charlotte responded with a pair of set wins to take a 2-1 lead. In the second set, neither squad could pull away until the very end. With the score tied at 23, the 49ers registered a kill and a block to end the set.
Charlotte pulled away earlier in the third set to take control of the match. The score was tied at 11 before three straight points handed the 49ers a lead they would not relinquish. Mason forced a fifth set with a commanding performance in the fourth frame, breaking open a 3-3 set with an 8-0 run and holding off Charlotte late.
In the fifth and deciding set, the Patriots fell behind early after a 4-1 opening run by Charlotte. However, Mason tied the score at 9. The teams essentially traded points but a Jennifer Webb kill put the 49ers at match point with the score 14-12. Fanella slammed a kill on the very next point, but Kara Raker's kill sealed the 49er victory.
Mason is back in action next Friday at the Indiana Invitational, where the Patriots will open against the host Hoosiers at 12:30 p.m. before facing Cincinnati at 5:30 p.m.
