- Mason bested by Dayton 3-0 in the first of two meetings this regular season.
- Jordan Glass extends her block streak to 10 consecutive matches with at least one block.
- Bailey Williams picked up five kills to give her 205 on the season, tying her total from last year.
FINAL:
Dayton 3, Mason 0 (
PDF Box Score)
Sydney Fanoga – 6 kills;
Emily Konchan – 18 assists;
Catie Espinoza – 14 digs.
Dayton, Ohio – The George Mason women's volleyball team began its weekend road trip in Dayton, Ohio to play the defending A-10 champion Dayton Flyers. The Patriots fell to the Flyers in straight sets (25-13, 25-16, 25-17).
"Tonight we played a tough Dayton team who tested us on all sides of the ball," head coach
Aylene Ilkson said. "Our play progressed throughout the match, which I was happy with. I think out trio of middle blockers did a nice job keeping us in the match. I'm optimistic we can turn things around and play better on Sunday."
Sydney Fanoga led the attack effort with six kills on 14 attempts, followed closely by
Jordan Glass who posted five. Glass' .267 hit percentage led the Patriots.
Katrina Santos led the teams' blocking effort along with
Bailey Williams and Glass, all three compiling two blocks.
Dayton jumped out to the early lead set number one and maintained it throughout. Despite a 4-0 run late in the set that included kills from Fanoga,
Emily Konchan, and a service ace by
Kelly Schaller, the Flyers took the first set 25-13.
After Williams got the Patriots' first kill of the set, the teams traded points in a stretch that saw five ties and three lead changes leading to Mason having a 14-13 lead. The Patriots as a team notched six kills in that stretch. However late in the frame the Flyer attack was enough to take set two by a score of 25-16.
Coming out of the break the Flyers used a 9-3 run to jump out to an early lead, but the Patriots fought and battled back to cut the Dayton lead 16-14 and kept the deficit no greater than three through the next four points. From that point, the Patriots were unable to build off the momentum as Dayton took the third set 25-17 – winning the match in the process.
The Patriots return to action Sunday afternoon when they finish the two-match road trip in St. Louis, Mo. against Saint Louis University.
NOTABLE STATS
- The Patriots surpassed 1000 team digs on the season with 32 against the Flyers.
- Friday marked the second match this season Sydney Fanoga led the Patriots in kills.
- Setter Emily Konchan has recorded a kill in four consecutive matches. She'll look to tie her season high of five straight on Sunday against Saint Louis.
