FAIRFAX, Va. - Sophomore Tori Price nearly tallied a triple-double while
classmate Lana Zonjic slammed a career-high 23 kills as the George Mason women's
volleyball team began Colonial Athletic Association play Friday night with a
3-1 win over VCU. Set scores were 25-19, 25-22, 18-25, 25-19, as the Patriots
(6-7, 1-0 CAA) won their third straight match. The Rams fell to 4-10 (0-1 CAA)
following the loss.
Price recorded 32 assists, 17 digs and seven kills while
Zonjic's offensive output was a match high as she connected on 23-of-38
attempts with just one error (.579). Seniors Noelle Fanella and Kelsey Bohman
also reached double-digit kills, chipping in 11 and 10. Fanella completed a
double-double with 13 digs while Bohman led all players with seven blocks (two
solo). Kristin Boyd's 16 kills led the Rams.
Mason controlled the first set, opening with a 6-2 run and
never trailing. The Mason lead grew as large as 10 at 20-10 and again at set
point, 23-14. The Rams held on with five straight points to cut the margin to
24-19, but a Zonjic kill gave Mason the opening set.
In the second, it was even at 10-10 before a 7-1 Mason run
opened up the scoreboard. VCU again found a response, coming within two at
19-17. Mason answered with four of the next five points to make it a 23-18
Patriot advantage, but four in a row by the Rams brought them within a point. A
pair of errors by the Rams, though, sent the home team to the locker room with
a two-set advantage.
VCU started strong in the third set and never trailed,
opening with a 9-3 run. Mason nearly tied the score at 13-all but instead with
the Ram lead at 13-12, a 7-2 VCU run essentially put the set out of reach and
the visitors went on to slice the match deficit in half.
In the fourth set, it was again close from the outset, with
the score tied at 14-all. The Patriots, though, used a 9-3 run to lead 23-17,
two points away from the victory. After each team recorded errors, Mason had
match point at 24-18. A Jasmine Waters kill delayed the victory, but after
Fanella slammed a kill on a feed from junior Lauren Goodell, the Patriots
wrapped up the win.
Mason will be back in action Saturday afternoon, hosting
William & Mary at 5 p.m. at the RAC.
