• Rhode Island defeats George Mason 3-0 Saturday.
• Mikala Wells posts 11 kills, her 10^th match of 2017 with double-digit kills.
• Catie Espinoza tallies dig number 250 on the season. Her 19 digs led all participating players in Saturday's match.

 
FINAL: Rhode Island 3, Mason 0 (PDF Box Score)
Mikala Wells – 11 kills (Match High); Emily Konchan – 15 assists; Catie Espinoza – 19 digs (Match High).
 
KINGSTON, R.I. – After playing a match two states away less than 24 hours prior to Saturday's first serve, the George Mason Patriots took on Rhode Island for its fourth conference match of the year to close out the current road trip. The Patriots were defeated 3-0.
 
"We have a lot to work on in the next week as we continue to grow as a team and program," head coach Aylene Ilkson said. "There were some glimpses of really solid progress this weekend but today Rhode Island got the better of us."
 
Mason got off on the wrong foot early in set number one and weren't able to rebound, dropping the set 25-17. In the second set the Patriots showed spurts of being in control early on, such as a sequence of three straight kills by sophomore outside hitter Mikala Wells, and had runs of 4-1 and 4-2 while leading 12-9 at one point. However, the Rams eventually took command of the set and won 25-18.
 
Similarly, in the third set both teams had their moments of being in control - such as 4-1 run for Mason in the middle of the set. Rhode Island got more bounces to go their way and took set three 25-17, winning the match by default.
 
Wells finished with 11 kills, earning her 10^th match of double-digit kills in 2017. Other notable performances included junior libero Catie Espinoza tallying 19 digs to lead the match, the ninth time this season she's led all participating players in digs. Espinoza also eclipsed 250 career digs and now has 260 this year.
 
The Patriots will be back in action Friday as they continue their history with George Washington in the Revolutionary Rivalry series. Tickets to the match can be purchased by calling (703) 993-3270.
 
NOTABLE STATS
 

• Despite the loss, Mikala Wells led all participating players in kills (11) and Catie Espinoza led all participating players in digs (19). Saturday marked the sixth time this season a Mason player led the match in individual kills and the eighth time this season for digs.
• Wells picked up one block assist Saturday. She has now recorded at least one block in five straight matches, extending the longest stretch of her career.
• Rhode Island compiled 12 service aces as a team compared to Mason's two.