Oct. 16, 2009

Box Score

HEMPSTEAD, N.Y. - Junior Holly Goode slammed 19 kills on .412 hitting to lead the George Mason women's volleyball team past Hofstra in straight sets on Friday evening. Set scores were 25-23, 25-16, 26-24.

Mason earned its second straight win and fourth in its last five tries as it improved to 15-6 and 4-2 in Colonial Athletic Association play, while the Pride fell to 7-16 and 2-4 in conference.

Goode was joined in double-digit kills by sophomore Noelle Fanella, who added 10. Senior Rebecca Walter recorded a match high with 12 digs, as did junior Fernanda Bartels who had 32 assists. Monica Knight led Hofstra with 12 kills.

The first set was even throughout, up until two back-to-back Mason points broke a 22-22 deadlock and gave the Patriots set point. They could not convert on their first attempt, but an attack error by the Pride put it away. The teams were even in the early moments of the second set before a 12-4 Patriot run gave Mason a 20-11 advantage and the Patriots held on for the two-set lead.

Out of the intermission, the third set matched the tone of the opener, and again it was the Patriots who pulled away late. Mason had its first opportunity at a victory at 24-21, but the Pride came back with three in a row to tie it at 24. A Goode kill and a block by Bartels and senior Laura Turner, though, sealed the three-set victory for the Patriots.

Mason continues its road trip Sunday when it faces Northeastern at 1 p.m. in Boston.