GAME PREVIEW: George Mason University vs. George Washington University
Friday, Oct. 6, 2017 at 7:00 p.m.
Recreation Athletic Complex (Capacity: 1,550)
 
COVERAGE
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PROMOTIONS
Mason Athletics Game of the Week – Free Chick-Fil-A sandwich to Mason students with valid Mason student ID while supplies last.
 
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FAIRFAX, Va. – The Patriots return home to kick-start a three-match home stand beginning with a Friday night showcase. George Mason University continues the Revolutionary Rivalry series between them and George Washington University Friday at 7 p.m. Both teams are looking to rebound after tough starts to conference play, as the two squads check in at 1-3.
 
This is the first time since Mason joined the Atlantic-10 that their first home conference match is against GW. This is also the first time Patriots have played the Colonials at home in the first week of October since Oct. 3, 2014, and is the second year in a row the first matchup between the teams will be in Fairfax.
 
SERIES HISTORY
 
The all-time series record favors the Colonials, who post an 8-29 record. In the two head-to-head matches last season the Patriots dropped two hard-fought five-set matches, including one that saw the Patriots register nine service aces (Oct. 14). Mason has not defeated the Colonials since Aug. 24, 2007.
 
NEWS AND NOTES
 

• The Patriots' attack is led by the 1-2 punch of sophomore outside hitters Bailey Williams and Mikala Wells. With the success those two have had at the pins this year, Williams is one of ten players in the A-10 to post a kills per set average greater than 3.00, and Wells leads the Patriots with nine matches of double-digit kills.
• The Patriots are one of three teams in the A-10 with two players that have 150 or more kills this season (Duquesne and La Salle being the others). Williams currently has 166 and Wells has 159.
• Williams' 23 kills against La Salle (9/24) is the third highest match total among A-10 players this season.
• Williams' five service aces against Lafayette (9/9) is tied for the most amount in a three-set match an A-10 player has posted this season.
• Senior outside hitter Jordan Glass continues the tear she's been on by racking up the blocks. Glass has recorded a block in her last six matches and is three away from doubling her previous season high of 19. She currently sits at 35, which is tied with middle blocker Pihla Jarvenpaa for the team lead. Glass is also six kills away from hitting 250 for her career.
• Senior middle blocker Sydney Fanoga will play in her seventh career match against George Washington. In her career she's posted 25 career blocks (2s-23a) for an average of 1.04 blocks per set.
• With the strategy of trying to keep attacks away from the libero commonly used in volleyball, it's been especially true with opponents in regards to junior libero Catie Espinoza. Last year the Virginia Beach native broke the school record for most digs in a single season with 483, and despite opponents being extra cautious with their attacks, it's not out of the realm of possibilities that she could post an ever greater total this season. Last year it took Espinoza an average of 4.60 digs per set over 105 sets played. She is currently averaging 4.33 digs per set, but down the stretch a year ago she averaged 5.38 digs per set over her last nine matches.
• Both setters split the workload last weekend with freshman Emily Konchan seeing action in five of the Patriots six sets and senior Kelly Schaller seeing action in four of six. Konchan's 2017 assist average (7.52) is good for fifth in the A-10.

 
SCOUTING THE OPPOSITION
 
George Washington Colonials | 5-14 (1-3 Atlantic 10)
The Colonials enter Friday with an identical conference record as the Patriots, and have even had the same results against the same teams thus far – beating La Salle and losing to Duquesne, Rhode Island and Fordham. Individual leaders include junior outside hitter Kelsey Clark (2.31 kills per set), senior outside hitter Aaliya Davidson (2.00 kills per set) and are led by guidance of first year head coach Sarah Bernson.

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