WHEN: Friday and Saturday
WHERE: SECU Arena (Towson, Md.)
OPPONENTS: –
EASTERN MICHIGAN - Friday, 2:30 p.m.;
TOWSON – Friday, 7:00 p.m.;
LAFAYETTE – Saturday 12:15 p.m. -
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LIVE STATS: TBA
TV STREAM: TBD
FAIRFAX, Va. - George Mason women's volleyball will participate in its third weekend invitational of the 2017 season. This weekend, the team will head up to Towson, Md. for the Towson Invite. Although five teams were invited, the Patriots will play three matches against the Eastern Michigan Eagles, the host Towson Tigers and the Lafayette Leopards.
While the Patriots have little to no history with the Eagles and Leopards checking in with head-to-head records of 0-0 and 2-0 respectively, Mason has seen plenty of Towson over the years compiling a 20-16 record against them. They have not met since 2012 where the Tigers defeated the Patriots 3-1.
NEWS AND NOTES
- Junior middle blocker Pihla Jarvenpaa continued her hot start to the season last weekend, notching four service aces, 20 kills and 12 blocks. Her season total of 1.14 blocks per set ranks sixth in the A-10.
- Senior outside hitter Jordan Glass checks in 24 kills shy of 200 for her career. Glass has also already surpassed her previous season high in total blocks and is currently second of the team with 17.
- In her first two starts of her collegiate career, freshman setter Emily Konchan took advantage of her opportunities compiling 61 assists in two matches. Her 38 against Central Michigan was a match high.
- After posting 28 kills in three matches (2.8 kills per set), sophomore outside hitter Bailey Williams climbed into the top ten in kills among A-10 players. This season she currently ranks seventh in total kills (61) and ninth in kills per set (3.21).
- Sophomore middle blocker Katrina Santos is chasing two career milestones. She currently sits 15 kills shy of 100 and six blocks shy of 50.
- Mason has done a good job of spreading out the attack. They are the only team in the A-10 with six players that have 30+ kills so far. VCU has five and the rest have four or less.
THE OPPONENTS
Eastern Michigan - 2017 record: 3-4 (0-0 MAC)
The Eagles are off to an inconsistent start in 2017, unable to win back-to-back matches to this point but have not dropped more than two in a row either. As a team, the Eagles have only managed to put up .167 attack percentage, but have benefited from their first seven opponents not doing much better - posting a .188 attack percentage. It's also worth noting the second set has been the most friendly to the Eagles, being winners in five and losers in just two. Third year coach Kimi Olson has five returning starters on her roster including junior outside hitter Jordan Smith who leads the team in 68 kills at 2.72 kills per set.
Towson - 2017 record: 6-0 (0-0 CAA)
The host team is off to a red-hot start to begin the 2017 campaign going 6-0 out of the gates and have four players averaging over 2.50 kills per set. While the Tigers have been nearly unbeatable in sets 2-4, they are 3-3 in the first set, so getting off to fast starts hasn't been their forte. Towson has two players averaging over three kills per set - junior outside hitters Jocelyn Kuilan (3.50) and Carola Biver (3.29).
Lafayette - 2017 record: 1-4 (0-0 Patriot League)
After winning their first match, the Leopards have lost their last four in combined 13 sets. Lafayette has thrived from the service line so far on the young season, notching 31 service aces for an average of 1.94 per set - good for first in the Patriot league. Players to watch include sophomore middle blocker Carly Kutschke with her 30 kills (second on team) and senior outside hitter Tori Smith who leads the team in kills per set (2.88) and is third in digs per set (2.62).
For tickets to Mason home volleyball matches call (703) 993-3270
