Sept. 8, 2010

Box Score

FAIRFAX, Va. - Junior Kelly McCarter recorded the second-most digs ever in a single match by a George Mason women's volleyball player as the Patriots defeated Loyola (Md.), 3-1 (25-21, 25-18, 22-25, 25-22), on Wednesday evening in non-conference action at Reitz Arena.

McCarter posted 32 digs, two short of Lynn Hord's 12-year old record of 34 set against San Diego State. For the Mason (4-3) offense, three different players posted double-figure kills en route to double-doubles, led by 15 digs and 13 kills by senior Holly Goode. Freshman Lana Zonjic tallied 13 digs and 11 kills, while junior Noelle Fanella poured in 10 kills and 10 digs. Senior Fernanda Bartels also earned a double-double with 39 assists and 13 digs.

For the Greyhounds (4-4), Nina Camaioni led all scorers with 18 kills along with 15 digs.

The first set could not have been much closer, with a total of 12 tie scores and four lead changes. Mason opened on a 6-2 run but the Greyhounds fought back to tie it at nine. The largest lead from then on was two before a four-point run put the Patriots ahead 23-19. Loyola cut it to two but a block by Goode and junior Kelsey Bohman followed by a Goode kill closed out the set in Mason's favor.

Both teams' attack struggled in the second set, with Mason holding a .098-to-.000 hitting advantage. Mason used a 6-0 run to combat a 6-4 deficit and take the lead. The Patriots did not fall behind the Greyhounds, pulling away for good after tie scores at 10-10 and 11-11. A 6-2 run pushed the Mason lead to as large as eight at 24-16, and the Patriots converted their third set point attempt to take a two-set lead.

Loyola jumped to the early lead in the third set at 4-0, and after the teams kept it close for a number of moments, a 7-2 Greyhound run put Loyola ahead for good, though Mason cut the gap to 24-22 before Loyola completed the third set victory.

The fourth set was even closer than the opener, sporting 15 ties and seven lead changes. The largest lead at any point was two, until Mason responded to a 22-21 deficit by closing out the match with four straight kills to capture the victory over the Greyhounds, improving to 9-0 all-time against Loyola.

Mason returns to action on Friday, traveling to New Brunswick, N.J., to take part in the Rutgers Invitational, where the Patriots will face TCU and Princeton along with the host Scarlet Knights.