WHEN: Friday, Aug. 25-Saturday, Aug. 26, 2017
WHERE: Ramsey Center (University of Georgia)
OPPONENTS: UNC-ASHEVILLE – Friday 1:30 p.m.;
GEORGIA – Friday 7:00 p.m.;
LIU Brooklyn – Saturday 10:00 a.m.;
Presbyterian – Saturday 4:00 p.m.
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LIVE STATS
TV STREAM:
SEC Network Plus (vs. Georgia only)
FAIRFAX, Va. – George Mason Women's Volleyball will kick off its 44th season at the Benson Hospitality Challenge in Athens, Ga. this weekend. The action begins with a Friday doubleheader set to start at 1:30 pm. against UNC Asheville followed by a 7:00 p.m. tilt against host Georgia - a match that will be aired on SEC Network plus. This will be the first year the Patriots are led by
Aylene Ilkson as the head coach.
THE TASK AHEAD
To begin Ilkson's tenure at George Mason, the Patriots begin 2017 with two matches Friday against UNC-Asheville (1:30 p.m.) and Georgia (7:00 p.m.), followed by two matches Saturday against LIU Brooklyn (10:00 a.m.) and Presyterian (4:00 p.m.).
MEET THE COACH
Ilkson's previous head coaching experience includes two years at the United States Coast Guard Academy where she compiled an overall record of 41-21. With this being her first head coaching job at the Division 1 level, Ilkson has brought a brand-new coaching staff with her.
NEED-TO-KNOW FACTS
-This will be the first time in 12 years George Mason will open the season anywhere besides the D.C. Volleyball Challenge.
-The Patriots' Women's Volleyball team is 1-0 all-time against both UNC Asheville and Georgia. The team has never played LIU-Brooklyn or Presbyterian.
-Returning letterwinners/starters: 10/4 + libero.
-Letterwinners/starters lost: 6/2
RETURNING PATRIOTS
Mason returns 10 letterwinners from last year including four starters plus the libero. Among the returning starters, junior libero
Catie Espinoza patrols the back line, bringing her 4.6 digs per set from last year. That total ranked first on the team and third in the Atlantic 10 conference. The back row also will feature sophomore outside hitter
Bailey Williams, who finished second on the team in kills (205) and third in kills per set (2.09), as well as sophomore outside hitter
Mikala Wells whose 2.23 kills per set was good for second on the team in 2016.
THE SENIORS
This year's senior class features four players, including team captains
Jordan Glass and
Sydney Fanoga. Glass, an outside hitter, has seen her statistics improve each season during her time at Mason with her single-game career highs in every statistical category coming in 2016. Fanoga, a middle blocker, is coming off a junior campaign where she led the team in blocks (83) and blocks per set (0.79). To round out the senior class, defensive specialist
Ashley Mennes provides invaluable depth on the back line and setter
Kelly Schaller will be the engineer to Mason's attacks as she looks to build off her strong 2016 season where she led the team in assists per set. Schaller's 6.32 assists per set was good for 10
th in the Atlantic 10.
2016
The highlights of last season came in back to back games after defeating La Salle 3-2 on Senior Night immediately followed by a win at Fordham to give the Patriots a three-game win streak for the first time in over two years. On Senior Night, both Williams and Fanoga logged career highs in Mason's five-set victory with Williams recording 27 digs and Fanoga tallying 13 kills. The following game, Mason trailed 7-12 in the fifth set before the Patriots rattled off eight straight points to steal a match victory.
THE OPPONENTS
UNC Asheville – 2016 Record: 12-16 (6-10 Big South)
The UNC Asheville Bulldogs are returning four starters plus the libero from their 2016 season. With just four total departing players from last year's team, the Big South Conference runner-up Bulldogs brought back the bulk of their roster. Players to watch include Cara Guthrie who led the team in points and kills per set last year, as well as Ansley Rooks, who finished 2016 with 188 kills for an average of 2.11 kills per set.
Georgia – 2016 Record: 13-18 (1-17 SEC)
The Georgia Bulldogs return 13 of their 16 letterwinners from last year as well as four starters plus the libero. After beginning the season 12-1 entering conference play, the Bulldogs dropped 17 of their 18 SEC matches and did not qualify for postseason play. Key players include Maddie Lobenstein, whose 385 points last year was good for 15
th in the SEC, as well as Cassidy Anderson whose 40 service aces last year ranked sixth in the SEC.
LIU Brooklyn – 2016 Record: 16-15 (10-4 Northeast)
The Blackbirds finished strong at the end of the 2016, going 7-2 to close out the regular season en route to a conference tournament championship. After falling to Penn State in the first round of the NCAA Tournament, LIU Brooklyn returns four starters plus the libero. Among last year's points per set leaders, the Blackbirds return three of the top five players in that department, including Viktoria Fink and Alex Lilliquist.
Presbyterian – 2016 Record: 5-26 (3-13 Big South)
The Blue Hose and fifth year coach Korrinn Burgess got off to a fast start in last year's season opening tournament, winning two of their three matches. Burgess's returning players to watch include junior outside hitter Sierra Davis, who led the team with 314 kills at an average of 2.88 kills per set, as well as sophomore outside hitter Erin Eulitz who logged 284 kills at 2.15 kills per set.
For Tickets to Mason Home Volleyball games call (703) 993-3270
