PITTSBURGH, Pa. – The George Mason women's volleyball team could not overcome a slow start, falling in four sets to Duquesne on Sunday afternoon in Pittsburgh, Pa.

After trailing 2-0 in the match, Mason won the third set in extra points, 26-24. The Patriots hit a set-high .343 with 16 kills and only four attacking errors on 35 attempts in the frame. Mason was unable to force a fifth set, dropping the fourth stanza by a score of 25-22.

The Patriots were led by freshmen duo Olyvia Kennedy and Ewelina Gacek. Kennedy posted a team-high 13 kills to go along with 11 digs for her third double-double. Gacek tallied 12 kills with only five attacking errors on 37 attempts. 

Senior Marlanna Boziceivch steadied Mason's defense with a match-high 26 digs.

INSIDE THE NUMBERS

• Mason hit .071 and 0.29 in the first and second sets, respectively. The Dukes took the first two frames by a score of 25-14.
• The Patriots' offense came alive in the third set behind 13 assists from senior Erin Derick. Kennedy notched five kills (.714) while Peyton Ehmke added four kills (.667).
• Duquesne scored five straight points to extend its advantage in the fourth set. The deficit was too large to overcome as Mason dropped the frame, 25-22.
• Freshman middle blocker Katarina Teahen made her Green & Gold debut in the second set. She played three sets, posting a kill, assist and block in the loss.
• Derick provided an all-around performance with 40 assists, five kills and three digs.

 
UP NEXT
Mason concludes A-10 play with a pair of home matches against Davidson (Nov. 12) and VCU (Nov. 13). The Patriots will honor their five seniors on Friday night: Peyton Ehmke, Katie Parmalee, Siron Hardy, Erin Derick and Marlanna Bozicevich.