Box Score FAIRFAX, Va. - In the first home Atlantic 10 Conference contest for any George Mason team, the women's volleyball team stormed out to an early lead but could not hold off Saint Louis, falling 3-1 on Friday evening at the RAC. Set scores were 15-25, 25-16, 25-14, 25-21. Mason dropped to 1-2 in A-10 play and 5-12 overall, while the Billikens improved to 2-1 in conference and 6-10 on the season.
Sophomore Morghan Martin led the Patriot offense with 14 kills, while classmate Bernetta Moore had a match-high 22 digs. Fellow sophomore Lolade Owokoniran, ranked 10th in the nation in blocking, led all players with five blocks (three solo). A trio of Billikens scored in double figures, led by 18 kills and 12 digs by Danielle Rygelski.
Mason opened the match hitting a blistering .375 in the first set, en route to a dominating win in the frame. The Patriots scored a 5-2 run to begin the match, but the Billikens tied the score at five. Mason answered with a 7-2 run, and they would not trail again in the first. SLU pulled to within 14-10, but a 5-2 scoring stretch by Mason put them up 19-12, and the lead grew as large as ten, including Spencer's kill which ended the set.
The Billikens found a strong start in the second set, scoring the first five points and opening with a 13-4 run. Mason pulled to within five at 15-10, but this time SLU earned a double-digit lead at 24-14. A Billiken error followed by a Martin kill extended the set, but SLU capitalized on a Mason error to head into intermission with the match all square.
SLU opened strong again in the third, mounting a 6-0 run as part of a larger 10-1 start to the set. The Patriots pulled to within 12-7, but could not the early deficit as the Billikens hit .467 in the set. It was their best offensive performance of the evening.
The final set was the closest by far, with nine tie scores. After SLU jumped out to an 8-3 lead, thePatriots scored five straight points to tie the score at eight. Three points would be the largest margin for either team, until the Billikens combined for a block on an attack by Martin for the 25-21 victory in the fourth set, taking the match as well.
Mason continues its inaugural A-10 homestand next weekend, hosting VCU on Friday at 7 p.m. before a 5 p.m. Saturday match against La Salle.
