WASHINGTON, D.C. - In the first matchup of the newly-christened Revolutionary Rivalry, the hosts from George Washington fired the opening salvo as the Colonials downed the George Mason women's volleyball team, 3-1, on Sunday afternoon at the Smith Center. Set scores were 25-18, 25-16, 19-25, 25-10.

The Patriots dropped to 2-5 in Atlantic 10 Conference play and 6-15 overall following the defeat, while the Colonials improved to 5-1 in conference action and 10-10 on the season.

Senior Lana Zonjic led the Patriots with 12 kills, while junior Stephi Matsushima tallied a match-high 13 digs. A trio of Colonials scored in double figures, led by 14 kills for Rachael Goss and Chidima Osuchukwu.

Mason led 6-4 in the early going before a 6-0 run by GW swung the advantage their way. It was the last time the lead changed hands in the opening set, with the Patriots getting no closer than three.  Mason pulled to within 22-18 late, but three straight points by the Colonials finished off the set.

GW extended the run into the second set, scoring the first six points as part of a 10-2 run. The Patriots trailed by nine before embarking on a 6-3 run of their own to close the gap to 14-10. That margin, though, would be the closest they would get as the hosts finished the second set with an 8-3 scoring stretch to go up two sets at the intermission.

The Patriots took the lead again at the start of the third set, but the pendulum would swing four times in the set, with nine tie scores.  GW led 18-17, but the Patriots answered with an 8-1 run to secure victory in the third and head to the fourth.

However, GW found another hot start opening with an 8-2 run in the final frame. Mason could get no closer than five points, and the Colonials scored seven of the final eight points in the match to secure the victory.

Sunday's match was the first in the Revolutionary Rivalry, which pits George Mason and George Washington against each other in a year-long, all-sports competition. The Tri-Corner Hat Trophy will be awarded based on a point system with points given to the victor in each of the 16 A-10 sports in which the schools compete. In men's and women's soccer a point will be given to the head-to-head winner with GW and Mason splitting the point if the teams tie. In men's and women's basketball, men's and women's tennis, lacrosse and volleyball the head-to-head winner will be awarded a point in the Tri-Corner Hat Trophy standings. The series winner in baseball and softball will earn a point, while in men's and women's cross country, golf, women's rowing and men's and women's swimming, the university that finishes higher in the Atlantic 10 Championships will earn a point.

Mason closes out its three-match road trip Friday night at Rhode Island, before returning home to face the Colonials once more next Sunday afternoon.