Box Score
- Mason defeats Hampton 3-1 led by Bailey Williams' 11 kills.
- Williams and Sophomore outside hitter Mikala Wells each posted double-digit kills, marking the fifth occurrence for Williams and the sixth for Wells in 2017.
- Mason as a team compiled 8.5 team blocks in the match, marking a new match high for 2017.
FINAL: Mason 3, Hampton 1 (
Box Score)
Bailey Williams – 11 kills;
Emily Konchan – 38 assists (Match High);
Catie Espinoza – 19 digs (Match High)
FAIRFAX, Va. – The Patriots kicked off the Saturday slate of matches with a 3-1 victory over the Hampton Pirates. After dropping the first set, George Mason rebounded to take the next three en route to the four-set victory.
"I think this morning was a great test of our grit and competitive spirit. We did a nice job when things got tight just fighting for every point and focusing on the game plan," head coach
Aylene Ilkson said. "Every day we are working on getting better and improving and I appreciate the hard work the team is putting into the process."
Mason had its back against the wall in the second set trailing 8-4, but went on a 7-0 run featuring kills from four different players. The two teams exchanged the lead three times to set the stage for a Hampton match point at 24-22, until Mason rattled off four straight points to steal the set.
Set three featured four ties – the latest being at 15-15, but a
Mikala Wells kill jump-started the Patriots and they never took their foot off the gas pedal. They cruised the rest of the way taking set two 25-17.
Looking to close out the match, the Patriots seized control early on with a 5-0 that put them in the driver's seat for much of the set. Despite a late push from Hampton, the Patriots held on in extras to win the set 26-24 to give them the match victory.
The Patriots finish off their non-conference schedule tonight at 7 p.m. against the Loyola Greyhounds.
NOTABLE STATS
- Williams and Wells both pass the 100-kill mark on the season with their performances (Williams 105; Wells 101).
- Mason registered its third straight game of 40+ kills and extended its mark of 24 matches with a service ace, a streak that extends back to last year.
- Freshman setter Emily Konchan ties her personal match-high in assists (38).
