MOREHEAD, Ky. - The George Mason women's volleyball team struck first with a set-one victory, but Appalachian State responded with three straight to defeat the Patriots, 3-1, on Saturday afternoon. The match, which ended with set scores of 23-25, 25-18, 25-17, 25-14, was Mason's final action of the weekend at the Comfort Inn & Suites Invitational, hosted by Morehead State.

Senior Noelle Fanella and sophomore Lana Zonjic led the Mason (3-5) attack with 12 and 11 kills, respectively, while senior Kelly McCarter posted 14 digs. Zonjic also served three aces, a match-high, while Appalachian State (5-5) saw three players register 12 kills apiece.

Fanella was later selected to the All-Tournament Team after accumulating 26 kills over the Patriots' three matches this weekend.

Mason jumped out to an early 6-2 lead to begin the match, but ASU came back to tie the score at 11. After trading the next four points, the Patriots scored three straight, and after a deadlock at 17, Mason notched three more points. ASU evened the score once more twice more and even took a 23-22 lead, but the Patriots grabbed set one by virtue of two Zonjic kills and an ASU attack error.

The margin was thin throughout the start of the second set, with neither team leading by more than two early on. Up 15-13, though, ASU scored a 7-2 run and Mason got no closer than six in the set as the match was evened up at one set all.

Set three again saw an earl y Mason run, as the Patriots led 7-4. A 6-0 run by the Mountaineers shifted the lead to their side, and with the score 11-9, a 6-1 ASU run opened the lead to 17-10. Mason was again held off, getting no closer than five.

Close early on, the final set went from a 10-7 Mountaineers advantage to a double-digit victory for them, as Appalachian hit .444 compared to a .065 mark for the Patriots.

Mason will next be back in action at home, hosting American on Wednesday at 7 p.m. in a match rescheduled from August 27 as a result of Hurricane Irene.