Box Score WHO: Women's Volleyball at La Salle
WHERE: Philadelphia, Pa.
FINAL SCORE: Mason 3, La Salle 1
KEY PLAYERS: Morghan Martin – 13 kills; Caitlyn Hipsher – 38 assists
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1st
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2nd
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3rd
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4th
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TOTAL
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La Salle (6-17, 0-7 A-10)
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22
|
25
|
20
|
20
|
1
|
|
George Mason (7-14, 2-5 A-10)
|
25
|
18
|
25
|
25
|
3
|
Philadelphia, Pa. – Led by its seniors in attack and defense, George Mason University's women's volleyball team found the strength to bounce back from Friday's heartbreaking loss against Duquesne and defeated La Salle in four sets on Sunday afternoon.
MATCH NOTES
-Senior outside hitter Morghan Martin and redshirt senior middle blocker Lola Owokoniran led Mason with 13 and 10 kills in the match, respectively, while another senior, libero Jelena Cobanovic, put in another impressive defensive performance and finished with match-high 13 digs to help the Patriots keep their opponent winless in the Atlantic 10 Conference.
-The Explorers had three attacking players who finished in double digits – junior Ashley Felton (14 kills), sophomore Bryanna Davis (13 kills) and senior Kelly Perillo (11 kills), while freshman Taylor Hite recorded team-best nine digs.
-Hite also provided 45 of the Explorers' 52 assists in the contest, while Mason's junior setter Caitlyn Hipsher continued impressing since returning to the starting lineup and recorded 38 assists.
-Mason took control of the first set early on and although La Salle managed to take the lead on two occasions – at 6-5 and 7-6 – the Patriots went on a 9-2 run to grab their highest lead of the set at 15-9.
-There was plenty of volleyball left to be played in the first set after that and the Explorers tied the set at 19 after repeatedly coming withing one point.
-Senior Meredith Bush played a key role for Mason at the end of the first set and gave the Patriots a slight lead with a kill for 22-21 before doing the same at 24-22 to put enough pressure on La Salle for the Explorers to commit an attack error and close the set in favor of Mason.
-The Patriots were the first team that pulled away by two early in the second set, but La Salle responded and tied the score at 10.
-The Explorers retained the momentum and went on their best 9-2 run that proved crucial for winning the second set 25-18 and tying the match at one set a piece.
-Mason was the better team coming out of the 10-minute intermission and gained a 10-3 advantage early in the third set.
-The Explorers shook off the initial rust and came within three on several occasions before a kill by Felton finally brought them within two and forced the Patriots' head coach Jackie Simpson to call a timeout out at 17-15.
-Following the timeout, the two teams exchanged points and it seemed like the Explorers would draw level after a kill by freshman Madison Kuch cut Mason's lead to one at 22-21, but the Patriots kept their composure and capitalized on four consecutive errors by La Salle to win the third set 25-21.
-Mason were forced into an early timeout in the fourth set after La Salle won the first three points, but the Explorers were unaffected and extended their lead to 6-0 after the teams came out of the huddle.
-La Salle's lead even extended to seven at 10-3, but it was followed by five successful plays for Mason that cut the Explorers' advantage to the just two points.
-The run turned the momentum over to the Patriots and they continued pushing until they finally tied the set at 13 before getting their first lead right after with a kill by sophomore Sydney Fanoga.
-Several tied scores later, Mason again scored consecutive points to grab a three-point lead at 20-17.
-Similar to the third set, Kuch cut thePatriots' lead to one with a kill – this time at 21-20 – but two errors by the Explorers put Mason in pole position to win the match.
-That happened in a most climactic fashion two plays later, when Cobanovic aced her second serve in a row to close the set and match at 25-20.
STAT BREAKDOWN
-La Salle had a slight advantage in the number of kills at the end of the match, 52-49, despite the Patriots having the better hitting percentage, .210 as opposed to the Explorers' .187.
-One dig was the difference between the two teams at the end, and it was in Mason's favor, 44-43.
-La Salle's Felton and senior Laura Kuhlmeier were the catalysts of the only solo blocks in the contest, but Mason had a sound advantage in terms of block assists, 18-8.
POST-MATCH QUOTES
“[I am] extremely proud of our team today. Caitlyn [Hipsher] ran a very balanced offense, finding the right people at the right time. Our whole team executed the game plan and did a great job making in-game adjustments.” – Mason head coach Jackie Simpson
NEXT ON THE COURT
-Mason returns home for Alumnae Weekend and another A-10 doubleheader, facing Fordham on Friday and Rhode Island on Saturday.
