Oct. 23, 2009
Box Score
FAIRFAX, Va. - Sophomore Noelle Fanella notched a double-double with 14 digs and 11 kills as the George Mason women's volleyball team earned its fourth straight win on Friday evening at the RAC Gym, defeating Towson in straight sets (25-23, 25-22, 25-17).
Mason improved to 17-6 and 6-2 in Colonial Athletic Association play with the win, while Towson dropped to 1-7 in conference play and 8-15 overall.
The contest, which began a season-long four-match homestand for Mason, was marked by offensive struggles for both teams, with the Patriots holding a .246-to-.127 hitting advantage. Senior Rebecca Walter duplicated Fanella's match-best 11 kills, while sophomore Katrina Boryc recorded 15 digs and junior Fernanda Bartels dished out 35 assists, both match highs. Britney Loomis led the Tigers with seven kills.
Towson jumped out to an early lead at the outset of the match but in a set featuring five lead changes and seven ties, it was the Patriots who were able to close out late. At 20-20, senior Laura Turner slammed a kill and an attack error by the Tigers gave the Patriots a lead they would not relinquish. A Fanella kill put Mason in position for set point at 24-22, and after a Loomis kill cut the gap to one, junior Holly Goode slammed a kill on a feed from Bartels to claim the set for Mason.
Another quick start by the Tigers in the second set was spoiled by Mason as the back-and-forth battle continued. With the score deadlocked at six, Mason rattled off four in a row to take a lead it preserved throughout the set, despite TU pulling within a point on two separate occasions.
After the intermission, it was all Patriots to begin the third set, opening on a 7-1 run and never trailing. Towson moved within two at 7-5 but a 9-3 scoring spree by Mason effectively put the game out of reach. An emphatic kill by sophomore Kelsey Bohman set the final margin at 25-17 and gave the Patriots their third consecutive three-set victory.
Mason will look to keep its winning streak going on Saturday evening at the RAC, facing first-place Delaware in a 7 p.m. tilt, which is a "Green & Gold Game". All fans wearing Mason apparel can receive admission to the match for just $1.
