Mason (0-0) vs. American (0-0)
WHEN: Saturday, 11:30 a.m.
WHERE: The RAC, Fairfax, Va.
LIVE STATS: Click Here
LIVE VIDEO: Click Here
 
Mason (0-0) vs. Howard (0-0)
WHEN: Sunday, 1 p.m.
WHERE: The RAC, Fairfax, Va.
LIVE STATS: Click Here
LIVE VIDEO: Click Here
 
FAIRFAX, Va. – The George Mason University women's volleyball team will open its 2021 fall campaign with a pair of home matches this weekend at the Recreation Athletic Complex. 

The Patriots will participate in the D.C. Challenge, hosting American on Saturday (11:30 a.m.) and Howard on Sunday (1 p.m.). Both matches will be broadcast nationally on ESPN+. 

Admission is free for all Patriots' women's volleyball home games played at the RAC.
 
PATRIOT POINTS

• Mason returns 12 letterwinners and all of its starters from a season ago. 
• The Green & Gold will be led by its senior class which features Erin Derick, Peyton Ehmke, Marlanna Bozicevich and Katie Parmalee. Senior Siron Hardy and junior Jewel Clark will miss the 2021 season as they recover from surgery.
• Ehmke finished with team highs in kills (138) and blocks (50) in 2020-21 while Parmalee was second on the team in kills (122) and blocks (46).
• Setter Derick will guide the Patriot offense once again this season. She averaged 8.49 assists per set – good for sixth in the A-10. 
• Bozicevich and junior Stephanie Der steadied the Patriot defense a season ago. Bozicevich averaged a team-high 4.16 digs per set while Der added 3.12 digs per set. 
• The 2021 roster features nine newcomers including eight freshmen: Ewelina Gacek, Camille Larkin, Olyvia Kennedy, BrookeLynn Sapp, Damiana Bova-Ford, Katarina Teahen, Anelise Johnson and Morgan Nguyen. 
• Mason's incoming class also features Fairleigh Dickinson transfer Mujay Mambu. The junior outside averaged 2.20 kills and 0.85 blocks per set in 11 matches last spring. 

SCOUTING THE OPPONENTS
American was picked to finish second in the Patriot League Preseason Poll after compiling a conference mark of 4-3 in the shortened 2020-21 spring season. Junior Zeynep Uzen was named to the 2021 Patriot League Volleyball Preseason All-League Team. The outside hitter was named PL Rookie of the Year in 2019 and also named AVCA All-Region Honorable Mention.
 
Howard was selected to finish second in the Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference (MEAC) behind preseason favorite Coppin State. Junior middle blocker Tamar Wells was named to the Preseason All-MEAC Team after totaling 101 kills and 25 blocks in 2020-21. 

UP NEXT
Mason will head to the West Coast for the UCI/Adidas Invitational. The Patriots will face the host Anteaters (Sept. 3) along with Boise State (Sept. 4) and Southern Utah (Sept. 4). 
 
Note: All guests inside Recreation Athletic Complex are required to wear a face covering, per University policy. In addition, guests must complete the Mason Daily COVID Health Check before arriving on campus. For more information, click here.