- Mason wins its first A-10 match of 2017 in five-set thriller against La Salle.
- Bailey Williams tallies career high 23 kills, records sixth double-double of season (23 kills/19 digs).
- Mikala Wells posts 18 kills, records fifth straight match of double-digit kills marking her longest stretch of her career.
FINAL:
Mason 3, La Salle 2 (
Box Score)
Bailey Williams – 23 kills (Match High);
Emily Konchan – 46 assists (Match High);
Bailey Williams/
Catie Espinoza – 19 digs.
PHILADELPHIA – After finishing up a match a little over 24 hours before its Sunday match began, the George Mason women's volleyball team faced off against La Salle looking to get its first conference win in 2017. It took a great effort as sophomore outside hitter
Bailey Williams had a career day posting 23 kills. This past week Williams put up 40 kills in just nine sets played, good for an average of 4.44 kills per set.
Sophomore outside hitter
Mikala Wells was also on her A-game, compiling 18 kills of her own, a season high. The match against the Explorers marked the first time since Oct. 9, 2016 where two different Patriots recorded 15+ kills in the same match. Wells also recorded two solo blocks, a single-match career high.
"It was a great way to end our Pennsylvania trip. I give our team so much credit for coming back and battling today after playing just 24 hours ago," head coach
Aylene Ilkson said. "We really pulled together and every player just went out and did their job to help us get the win."
Neither team had a lead greater than one point in the first set until the Explorers ultimately won 25-23. The Patriots immeditely rebounded and won a set of their own 25-23. In another tightly-contested set, Mason ultimately prevailed thanks to two-straight kills by Williams when the score was deadlocked at 23. Williams had six kills in the second set to compliment the six Wells posted in set number two to give Mason the second set win.
After dropping set three 25-15, the green and gold dug deep and battled back taking control the fourth set, winning that one 25-13. After each team won a close set and each team won a set that was not close, something had to give in the fifth set.
It was apparent early that the final set would be close, like the first and second sets before it. The set had 11 ties and eight lead changes and went well past the 15-point mark. Mason was on the verge of defeat four different times but never gave in, and ultimately won the set 24-22, giving them the match after a wild fifth set victory.
The Patriots will return to Fairfax this week to practice then will head to the Northeast for two matches next weekend against Fordham and Rhode Island.
NOTABLE STATS
- Freshman setter Emily Konchan recorded her second double-double of the season with 46 assists and 11 digs. The match marks Konchan's third straight of 40+ kills.
- Junior outside hitter Licie Letie notched two service aces, the first two of her career which contributed to Mason's stretch of at least one service ace in every match of 2017. Leite also compiled eight digs, a new career high for her at Mason.
- The Patriots are now 2-0 in five-set matches.
