Oct. 2, 2009

Box Score

FAIRFAX, Va. - Four Patriots registered double-digit kills to lead the George Mason women's volleyball team past Virginia Commonwealth, 3-2, on Friday evening in Mason's home Colonial Athletic Association opener at RAC Gym. Set scores were 25-21, 25-27, 25-23, 21-25, 15-11.

Mason improved to 13-5 and 2-1 in CAA play as it held off a pesky VCU (12-6, 1-1) squad in an entertaining back-and-forth battle before 541 fans.

Sophomore Noelle Fanella led the way for Mason as she posted a career-high 18 kills. Senior Rebecca Walter and junior Holly Goode each chipped in 13 kills, and senior Laura Turner rounded out the quartet as she added 12. Goode led Mason with 17 digs for a double-double, a feat matched by Fanella and Walter who each recorded 10 digs. Junior Fernanda Bartels put up a double-double as well, notching 46 assists and 15 digs.

VCU saw three players in double figure kills, led by 19 from Michala Kvapilova while Marisa Low and Lenka Melicharkova had match highs with 29 digs and 58 assists, respectively.

Mason opened the match on a tear, scoring an 8-3 run and leading the entire first set, an advantage which grew as large as six and was never threatened any closer than three points. The second set was much closer throughout as neither team earned a lead larger than four points. Mason had the first opportunity for a set point at 24-23 after a block by Goode and sophomore Kelsey Bohman, but could not convert either of its two opportunities thereafter. After a Kelsie Clegg kill made it 26-25 in favor of VCU, Kvapilova's kill tied the ledger at one set apiece.

Another hot start by the Patriots in the third set put them in the driver's seat early, as Mason opened on a 9-3 run. However, VCU fought back to ultimately tie the score at 18. The score was tied again at 22 before two straight Ram attack errors gave Mason set point. Goode's kill at 24-23 put Mason ahead 2-1. VCU broke open a tight contest in the fourth set, using a 8-3 run to break a 12-12 tie and force a fifth and deciding set.

In the tie-breaker, the teams were even through six points before Mason rattled off a 9-2 run to make it 12-5. The Rams answered with a 6-1 run of their own to cut the gap to 13-11, but a Fanella kill and a block by Bohman and Bartels sealed the victory for the Patriots.

Mason will look to make it three in a row on Saturday afternoon when it hosts William & Mary at 4 p.m.