LIVE STATS: Rhode Island | Fordham
ESPN+: Fordham

FAIRFAX, Va. – The George Mason women's volleyball team will conclude regular season play on the road this weekend. The Patriots will take on the Rhode Island Rams at 7 p.m. on Friday in Kingston, R.I.

Mason's final regular season game will be against the Fordham Rams at 3 p.m. on Saturday.

Coming off a 2-0 weekend, the Patriots clinched a spot in the A-10 Tournament for the first time in program history with their sweep over Davidson. The A-10 Championship will take place from Nov. 16-18 at the Siegel Center in Richmond, Va.

The Patriots also knocked off top-seeded VCU to hand the Rams their first conference loss of the season. Mason snapped VCU's 28-match winning streak over A-10 opponents, a record dating back to 2016.

NEWS AND NOTES

• Freshman ShaLi Niu was named Atlantic 10 Rookie of the Week for her performances over Davidson and VCU. This is the opposite hitter's second-straight A-10 weekly honor.
• The Patriots finished with a 6-3 record at home this season – their best record at home since 2011.
• Mason is riding a three-game winning streak with two league matches remaining.
• The last time Mason made a conference tournament, the Patriots went on to defeat top-seeded VCU on Nov. 25, 2009 to claim the CAA Championship.
• Senior libero Catie Espinoza sits third in the Atlantic 10 with 4.63 digs per set.
• Sophomore Emily Konchan ranks fifth in the A-10 with 9.29 assists per set. The setter tabbed 82 assists over two matches last weekend.
• Mason defeated both Fordham, 3-1, and Rhode Island, 3-2, earlier this season at the RAC.

 
SCOUTING THE OPPONENTS
Rhode Island (8-16, 2-9 A-10)

The Rams are coming off a sweep over Fordham on Nov. 3. Prior to last weekend, Rhode Island was on an eight-game losing streak.  The Rams currently sit tied for last in the A-10.

Earlier this season, Mason earned its first five-set win of the season over Rhode Island. After three sets, Mason held a 2-1 lead in the match but Rhode Island forced a fifth set. Mason claimed the final set 15-11 for its fourth-straight win.

Outside hitter Natale Zanellato leads the offensive attack with 2.80 kills per set while middle blocker Jenna Mcguire lifts the defense with 1.02 blocks per set. McGuire was named A-10 Defensive Player of the Week for her performance against Fordham.

Fordham (9-16, 2-10)

The Rams are on a seven-game losing streak with its most recent defeat to Rhode Island last weekend. The Rams sit tied for last in the A-10 with two league matches remaining.

Earlier this season, Mason defeated Fordham 3-1 on Oct. 5. It was a historic night for the Patriots as Espinoza broke Mason's all-time career digs record with a season-high 33 digs and Konchan tallied her 1,000th career assist.

Mason will look to control Kaitlin Morley who averages 3.39 kills per set – good for fifth in the Atlantic 10.