FAIRFAX, Va. – George Mason University women's volleyball will travel to Richmond, Va. on Friday to face its first Atlantic 10 road opponent. The Patriots will take on the VCU Rams at 7 p.m. at the Stuart C. Siegel Center. 
 
On Sunday, Oct. 14 Mason travels to Davidson for a matchup at 1 p.m. at John M. Belk Arena to round out the weekend road trip. 
 
The Patriots are currently off to their best start in A-10 play with a conference record of 4-1. Mason sits third in the Atlantic 10 standings.
 
VCU and Davidson are the first of five-straight road tests for the Patriots. 
 
NEWS AND NOTES

• Bailey Williams was named Atlantic 10 Co-Player of the Week after posting doubles-doubles in Mason's two victories this past weekend. The outside hitter tabbed 17 kills and added a season-high 19 digs in Mason's 3-1 win over Fordham. Against Rhode Island, the junior collected a season-high 22 kills and added 12 digs. 
• Catie Espinoza was named Atlantic 10 Defensive Player of the Week after shattering a 24-year-old school record for career digs. The libero's 12th dig put her first in Mason's all-time career digs list with 1,278 digs with half of the season to go.
• Espinoza ranks fourth in the Atlantic 10 with 4.47 digs per set.
• Emily Konchan tallied her 1,000th career assist against Fordham after collecting a career-high 58 assists.
• Mason defeated Rhode Island for the first time in program history. This is the second time this season the Patriots have defeated an A-10 opponent for the first time.
• Mason leads the all-time series over VCU 36-22; but since joining the A-10, VCU leads the conference record, 6-1. 
• VCU sits first in Atlantic 10 standings with a record of 5-0. The Rams have won 21 straight matches against A-10 opponents.
• Davidson leads the all-time series 5-2. 

 
SCOUTING THE OPPONENTS
 
VCU: 10-7 (5-0 Atlantic 10)
 
The Rams faced a tough out-of-conference schedule; including a loss to then No. 14 Pittsburgh by a score of 3-0. However, in Atlantic 10 play, VCU bolsters a perfect 5-0 record and are on a six-game winning streak.
 
VCU's attack is led by Vicki Giommarini (2.92 k/s) and Gina Tuzzolo (2.19 k/s). Giommarini shared her Co-Player of the Week honors with Mason's Williams after last week's performances. 
 
On the defensive side, the Rams have three players averaging more than one block per set. Leading the charge is junior middle blocker Jasmin Sneed, who ranks first in the Atlantic 10 with 1.57 blocks per set. Sneed has received A-10 Defensive Player of the Week honors twice this season. 
 
Last season, Mason dropped its lone match against VCU 3-0. The Patriots look for their first victory over the Rams since 2015. 
 
Davidson: 8-8 (1-4 Atlantic 10)
 
Davidson opened conference play with a 3-0 win over Duquesne. The Wildcats have since lost four-straight Atlantic 10 matchups. Davidson fell to Friday's opponent, VCU, on Oct. 6 in straight sets. The Wildcats recently picked up a win over NC Central on Oct. 9 in a midweek matchup. 
 
Davidson is led by Mason Rooney who has collected four doubles-doubles this season. 
 
The Wildcats will play George Washington on Friday night before taking on the Patriots on Sunday. 
 
Last season, Mason defeated Davidson in straight sets on Oct. 13, 2017.