Sept. 3, 2010
Box Score
FAIRFAX, Va. - Three George Mason women's volleyball players posted double-doubles as the Patriots overcame a 2-1 deficit to defeat Army, 3-2 (25-19, 24-26, 17-25, 25-19, 15-11) on day one of the Patriot Invitational Friday evening before 502 fans at the Recreation & Athletic Complex.
Mason (2-2) was led by senior Holly Goode's 15 kills and 14 digs, while junior Noelle Fanella added 12 kills and 13 digs. Senior Fernanda Bartels posted a match-high 38 assists to go with 19 digs. Junior Kelsey Bohman also put forth a strong effort at the net, falling one block short of her career high as she recorded 10 total blocks (four solo). For the Black Knights (2-3), Ariana Mankus had 29 digs and 27 kills, one of three Army players with a double-double.
The Patriots dominated the first set, out-hitting Army by a .171-to-.020 margin including a 4-to-0 blocking advantage. Goode had six kills in the set on .462 hitting, as Mason jumped out to the early lead as large as eight at 18-10, including a 7-1 start to the match. Army fought back and cut it to three at 20-17, but Mason held on to go up one set.
In the second set, Mason tallied 16 kills and saw its attack improve, but it was Army who controlled the net with five blocks to Mason's zero. A much closer set on the scoreboard, neither team led by more than five points with nine ties and four lead changes. Leading 22-19, Mason allowed three straight points by the Black Knights which knotted the score. On Mason's only attempt at 24-23, D.J. Phee tallied a kill for Army to tie the score, and a pair of Mankus kills leveled the match at one set apiece.
The Black Knights found the hot start in set three, opening on a 4-1 run and, after an opening kill by Bohman, leading for the duration of the set. The Mason attack faltered in the third, hitting .071 compared to .244 for Army, including eight Mankus kills.
Into the fourth set, a razor-thin margin separated the teams in the early going but, with the score 12-11 in the Knights' favor, Mason rattled off seven straight points to take the lead for good. A Megan Forbes block got Army within 21-19, but four straight Patriot points sent the match to the decisive fifth set.
Entering the fifth set for the first time in 2010, Mason jumped out to a 4-1 lead before the Black Knights matched the feat to tie the score at five. A 5-1 run by the Patriots ultimately swung the lead in their favor for good, as a Goode kill on match point sealed the win for the host team.
The Patriot Invitational continues through Saturday, with four matches scheduled at the RAC. Mason will take on West Virginia at 1 p.m. before closing out the tournament against Charlotte at 7 p.m. In Friday's first match, the 49ers swept the Mountaineers.
Live video for all four matches on Saturday is available through Mason All-Access.
