GREENSBORO, N.C. - The George Mason women's volleyball team opened its weekend of play at the UNCG Spartan Spiketacular, but the Patriots could not topple the hosts as they fell in straight sets Friday evening at Fleming Gym. Set scores were 25-16, 25-19, 25-20.

Mason (3-9) was led by nine kills from sophomore Morghan Martin while classmate Bernetta Moore reached double-digits with 11 digs. Senior Laura Spencer contributed a team-high five blocks along with six kills. Two Spartans (6-4) led the offense, which out-hit the Patriots by a .321-to-.153 margin, as Olivia Humphries and Karrian Chambers chipped in 14 and 13 kills, respectively.

UNCG seized control in the first set at 10-all, scoring four of the next five points to take a lead they would not relinquish. Mason pulled to within 17-14, but five straight Spartan points gave them their largest lead to that point. The Patriots got no closer than six at 22-16, and back-to-back Humphries kills finished the set for the hosts.

The teams swapped the lead four times in the early moments of the second set, and it was a close affair throughout. Mason led by as many as three after a pair of Martin kills put them ahead 8-5, and the Spartans answered to go up 12-10. The Patriots tied the score at 12, but a pair of UNCG points put them ahead for good. Once again Mason mounted a late rally, but three straight points by the Spartans closed out the stanza.

In the third, UNCG jumped out to a 7-3 lead before the Patriots answered with five of the next six to tie the score at 8-8. For the next minutes, the margin stayed within two points as Mason kept pace with the Spartans, even leading 15-14. Four in a row by UNCG put them on top, and they would stay there as they finished off the victory.

Mason will be back in action Saturday afternoon, facing TCU at 11 a.m. before a tilt against North Carolina Central at 5 p.m., the Patriots' final non-conference match.