Sept. 6, 2008
Box Score
FAIRFAX, Va. - The George Mason women's volleyball team closed out the 2008 Patriot Invitational against New Mexico on Saturday evening at the Field House, but the Lobos proved to be unwelcome guests as they swept the Patriots with set scores of 25-11, 25-15, and 25-12. New Mexico (6-0) completed a 4-0 weekend in Fairfax, while Mason (1-5) saw its record fall to 1-2 in its home tournament.
Mason's offense was led by six kills from freshman Kelly McCarter, but the Patriot attack was limited to just .021 hitting, while the Lobos, led by Anna Lehne's 11 kills, recorded a .258 hitting percentage. The Patriots were out-blocked by a 10-to-5 margin as the Lobos cruised to the victory.
With the score tied at three, UNM's 5-1 run put the Lobos ahead for good in the first set, one in which Mason was out-hit by a .393-to-.029 margin. The Patriots did move within two points at 11-9, but a 14-2 scoring spree by the Lobos gave them the first set win.
New Mexico, which has not lost a set all season, opened the second stanza in even more dominating fashion as they scored eight of the first nine points. Mason could move no closer than four points at 11-7 before UNM pulled away for good and took the second set, despite only hitting .097 in the frame. However, the Lobos' strong attack returned in the third and final set, pulling away from a 6-6 tie with a 6-1 run.
The Patriots had two players named to the All-Tournament team in sophomore Fernanda Bartels and junior Rebecca Walter. Bartels tallied 83 assists and eight blocks over the weekend, while Walter recorded 20 kills and 10 digs in two matches.
New Mexico's Jeanne Fairchild was named the tournament's most valuable player, and was joined on the All-Tournament team by teammates Rose Morris and Jade Michaelsen. Liberty's Chelaine McCarty and Nicki Scripko, Rutgers's Callie Pence, La Salle's Christa Dominick, and St. Francis's Kristin Buter rounded out the selections.
The Patriots open up a seven-match road trip on Wednesday when they make the short trip for a 7 p.m. matchup at Howard in Washington, D.C. Mason will not return home again until September 27, when it opens Colonial Athletic Association play against James Madison at 7 p.m.
