Sept. 19, 2009

Box Score

MORGANTOWN, W.Va. - Stifling defense by the George Mason women's volleyball team led the Patriots to a three-set sweep against Princeton on Saturday morning at the WVU Invitational. Mason (10-3) held the Tigers (1-7) to a sub-zero attack, out-hitting Princeton .200 to -.010.

Set scores were 25-22, 25-15, 25-16.

Junior Holly Goode paced the Patriot offense with 11 kills, while sophomore Katrina Boryc and junior Fernanda Bartels each recorded match-highs with 12 digs and 30 assists. Senior Laura Turner led the Mason blocking corps, which held a 11.5-to-4 advantage at the net, as she tallied six total blocks.

Lydia Rudnick led the Tigers with a match-high 12 kills.

In the first set, Princeton's lone set with a positive hitting percentage, the teams were even over halfway through before Mason seized the lead for good with a 5-0 run to make it 20-15. The Tigers pulled as close as two, including at 24-22 but on Mason's third set point, sophomore Noelle Fanella slammed a kill to give Mason the first set.

Another big run by the Patriots in the second set led Mason to capture a two-set lead, as a 12-2 scoring spree with the ledger tied at six put the Patriots comfortably ahead. The theme continued into the third set, as Princeton's 4-3 lead quickly evaporated into a 12-5 Mason advantage. That lead was never threatened any closer than six points as the Patriots rolled to victory.

Mason continues play at the tournament with a 5 p.m. match against Wright State later Saturday afternoon.