Box Score
- Sophomore outside hitters Bailey Williams and Mikala Wells each post 12 kills, putting them both over 90 for the season.
- Senior middle blocker Sydney Fanoga climbs into the top three in kills per set among Mason players (2.00)
- Junior middle blocker Pihla Jarvenpaa tallied four blocks to extend her team-leading total to 27.
FINAL SCORE: Charlotte 3, Mason 1 (
Box Score)
Bailey Williams/
Mikala Wells – 12 kills;
Emily Konchan – 30 assists (Match High);
Catie Espinoza – 16 digs.
FAIRFAX, Va. – George Mason women's volleyball returned home for its final weekend of non-conference play, and took on the Charlotte 49ers to kick off the George Mason Classic. The Patriots struck first winning the first set 26-24, but dropped the next three.
"I think our team came out on fire and it was some of the best they've played [this year], and I think our serve and pass game stayed really [strong] the whole match," head coach
Aylene Ilkson said. "It was our blocking that started to break down and that gave UNC-Charlotte a great opportunity to score, and they took advantage of it to their credit."
Sophomore outside hitters
Bailey Williams and
Mikala Wells each tallied 12 kills to push their season totals to 94 and 91 respectively. Williams will enter tomorrow's match with 299 career kills, and will look to eclipse 300 for her career.
The Patriots came out flying and played with a lot of intensity in set number one, getting off to a 10-5 lead capped off by a
Sydney Fanoga service ace. Fanoga finished with two service aces and the Patriots notched five in the match.
After falling behind 22-18 late in the set, Mason engineered a stellar comeback that started with Fanoga's second ace of the set. An 8-2 run propelled the Patriots through extras with a 26-24 victory.
Once the first set concluded, the Patriots dropped back-to-back sets 25-18 but showed spurts of being in control, including two 4-0 runs and a 3-0 run in set number two. Sophomore middle blocker
Katrina Santos led the Patriots with five kills in set number two, and had seven in the match.
The Patriots dropped set four 25-11, and by default dropped the match. Quick turnaround for the team as they have the morning match tomorrow at 11 a.m., taking on the Hampton Pirates.
NOTABLE STATS
- UNC-Charlotte posted 17 team blocks compared to George Mason's 5.
- After compiling five service aces on the night, Mason has now recorded at least one service ace in every match this season.
- Mason had two players with 15+ digs for the second time this season.
