George Mason University vs. La Salle University
Friday, Oct. 27, 2017 at 7:00 p.m.
RAC Gym (Capacity: 1,550)
 
George Mason University vs. Duquesne University
Saturday, Oct. 28, 2017 at 7:00 p.m.
RAC Gym (Capacity: 1,550)
 
COVERAGE
LIVE STATS | TV STREAM
 
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MASON: QUICK FACTS | INFORMATION GUIDE | ROSTER
LA SALLE: QUICK FACTS | INFORMATION GUIDE | ROSTER
DUQUESNE: QUICK FACTS | INFORMATION GUIDE | ROSTER
 
FAIRFAX, Va. – The George Mason Patriots clash with the La Salle Explorers and the Duquesne Dukes for the second time this season. Unlike the first weekend where Mason saw them in Pennsylvania, the Patriots will play La Salle on Friday night and Duquesne on Saturday night. First serve for both matches are scheduled for 7 p.m.
 
Since joining the A-10 in 2013, George Mason has played La Salle twice in the regular season on two previous occasions (2013, 2015) and has played Duquesne twice in the regular season once before (2015). Every year since the green and gold started playing the two teams on a regular basis the Patriots have played La Salle in the month of October, and have seen Duquesne in October each year except 2013 – they played on November 1 of that year.
 
SERIES HISTORY
 
The Patriots have history on their side when it comes to the win-loss statistic against their two weekend opponents. Against La Salle specifically, recent history favors George Mason since the last time they played the Patriots won a thrilling five-set match back on Sept. 24. Bailey Williams registered a career high 23 kills against the Explorers, still good for the highest individual total this season for a Patriot. All-time Mason leads the series against La Salle 7-1.
 
Mason checks in at 7-4 all-time against Duquesne with the most recent head-to-head match being a 3-1 loss back on Sept. 23. With the Duquesne match this weekend set for Oct. 28, that day will mark the one-year anniversary of Tiffany Clarke's 23-kill performance against the very same Duquesne Dukes.

NEWS AND NOTES

• Junior libero Catie Espinoza enters the weekend with 961 career digs. If she can get the 39 needed to eclipse 1,000 for her career, she'll become the sixth player in program history to reach 1,000, and the first to do it in the 25-point set era.
• Espinoza is fifth in the A-10 in digs per set (4.44). For conference only play, she ranks third (4.41 digs per set).
• In the last two meetings against Duquesne, Espinoza has averaged 5.33 digs per set.  
• Jordan Glass has recorded at least one block in 11 straight matches, which continues to be the longest streak of her career.
• In that stretch, Glass is averaging 0.85 blocks per set, the highest average on the team.
• It's the longest individual block streak for Mason since Sydney Fanoga recorded a block in 25 straight matches, a streak that began last year and extended into this year. With the remaining matches in the 2017 regular season and postseason, the highest possibility for Glass to extend her streak to is 22 consecutive matches.
• Bailey Williams has enjoyed great success against La Salle in her young career. In 10 sets against the Explorers, the sophomore averages 3.60 kills per set, a .275 hit percentage, 4.60 digs per set and has compiled 39.5 points.
• Williams' single-match career highs in kills (23), digs (27) and solo blocks (2) have all come against La Salle.
• Emily Konchan needs 16 assists to reach 500 on the season. She ranks sixth in the A-10 with 7.68 assists per set.
• In the last meeting against Duquesne, Maddie French posted two service aces, tying her single-match career high.
   

SCOUTING THE OPPOSITION

La Salle Explorers | 12-13 (2-7 A-10)
La Salle has had its ups and downs since they last saw the Patriots, going 3-5 since the last meeting. They did win in their most recent match Tuesday against Maryland Eastern Shore in five sets. The Explorers are anchored by Samantha Graver who is averaging 3.46 kills per set – good for fourth in the A-10. Defensively it's libero Jensen Sharrits who patrols the back line with 4.67 digs per set, as well as Rachel Carr who leads the blocking attack at 0.71 blocks per set. There's been a change in coaching personnel since the last meeting, as Andrew Kroger will be serving as the acting head coach Friday night due to Caitlin Schweihofer being on maternity leave.
 
Duquesne Dukes | 10-13 (5-4 A-10) [All stats an info as of Friday]
The Dukes are 4-4 since the Mason-Duquesne match in Pittsburgh back in September. The Duke attack features a one-two punch of Maria Mosbacher and Abbie Trzeciak leading the way. Mosbacher is first on the team in kills per set at 3.15 and has averaged 3.13 kills per set since her and the Dukes last faced Mason. In addition to Trzeciak being second on the team with 2.78 kills per set, she leads the team in hit percentage at .287 – good for ninth in the A-10. The Dukes will face George Washington on Friday before meeting number two against George Mason Saturday night.

For tickets to the weekend's matches, call our ticket office at (703) 993-3270 or click here for more information.