Sept. 10, 2010

Box Score

PISCATAWAY, N.J. - Junior Noelle Fanella led a trio of Patriots with double figure kills, but the George Mason women's volleyball team opened play in the Rutgers Invitational with a five-set loss to the host Scarlet Knights on Friday evening. Set scores were 25-19, 21-25, 25-17, 16-25, 15-10.

Fanella poured in 14 kills to pace the Patriots (4-4), and she was joined in double digits by freshman Lana Zonjic and senior Holly Goode, who chipped in 12 and 10 kills, respectively. Goode posted Mason's lone double-double of the evening as she added 10 digs.

Caitlin Saxton had 22 kills to lead the RU (5-3) offense, which held a .286-to-232 hitting advantage over the Patriots in the match.

Mason rallied from the early one-set deficit with a strong attack in the second set, swinging .389 and breaking a 14-14 deadlock with a 5-1 run to take the lead for good. In the third set, a 7-1 run by the Scarlet Knights put Rutgers ahead as they went on to take a 2-1 lead.

In the fourth set, Mason staved off elimination despite hitting .077 in the frame. Trailing 7-6, the Patriots embarked on a 8-2 run and led by as many as nine, forcing a decisive fifth set. Rutgers took control of the fifth early, using a 6-2 run to start it off and keeping Mason no closer than three points from there as they defended their home court.

The Patriots continue play in the Garden State on Saturday, facing TCU at 10 a.m. before closing out their weekend with a 2 p.m. match against Princeton.