2013 MARYLAND INVITATIONAL
When: Friday and Saturday
Where: Comcast Pavilion, College Park, Md
Admission: Free
Live Stats: Click Here
Friday, September 13
George Mason vs. Villanova - 5 p.m.
Saturday, September 14
George Mason at Maryland - 1:30 p.m.
George Mason vs. New Hampshire - 5 p.m.
The George Mason women's volleyball team opens an eight-match road swing with a short trip across the Potomac to take part in the University of Maryland Invitational. The Patriots will face the host Terrapins along with a duo of Wildcats, Villanova University and the University of New Hampshire.
Mason (2-6) is coming off a 1-3 weekend at its own Patriot Invitational, defeating Coppin State in four sets but suffering defeats at the hands of Princeton, Temple and Radford. Senior outside hitter Lana Zonjic was named to the All-Tournament Team while redshirt sophomore Lolade Owokoniran was selected as the tourney's Best Blocker. She leads a Patriot effort that ranks fourth in the nation in blocks per set (3.23 bps).
The host Terrapins (5-1) are coming off a victory in their own tournament last weekend, knocking off Penn, UMKC and LIU. Maryland's lone loss of the year came on August 31 to UMBC, a team the Patriots beat on the road on Sep. 4. Ashleigh Crutcher leads the Terps offense with 3.65 kills per set while Sarah Harper commands the backcourt averaging 5.78 digs per set, fifth-highest in the nation.
Villanova is 2-4 on the year, most recently knocking off Lehigh, 3-1, in Bethlehem, the 100th career victory for VU head coach Josh Steinbach. Lauren Carpenter paces the offense with three kills per set for Wildcats.
New Hampshire is also coming off a mid-week, non-conference victory at home over Bryant University, which moved the Wildcats' mark on the year to 5-3. UNH has played four straight matches at home but opens an 11-match road trip this weekend in College Park. Morgan Thatcher keys the offense scoring 3.5 points per set.
