Mason (0-0) vs. Howard (0-0)
WHEN: Friday, 6 p.m.
WHERE: Howard University; Washington, D.C.
LIVE STATS: LINK
LIVE VIDEO: LINK
 
Mason (0-0) vs. American (0-0)
WHEN: Saturday, 12 p.m.
WHERE: American University; Washington, D.C.
LIVE STATS: LINK
LIVE VIDEO: LINK
 
Mason (0-0) vs. New Orleans (0-0)
WHEN: Saturday, 7 p.m.
WHERE: The RAC; Fairfax, Va.
LIVE STATS: LINK
LIVE VIDEO: LINK
 
FAIRFAX, Va.- The George Mason University women's volleyball team will open its 2022 fall campaign with a pair of away matches in Washington, D.C. before returning home to the Recreation Athletic Complex for their home opener on Saturday night.
 
The Patriots will first travel across the Potomac to Howard University to take on the Bison on Friday at 6 p.m. The team will then return to D.C. on Saturday (12 p.m.) for a midday matchup with the Eagles.
 
George Mason will have a quick turnaround as it welcomes the New Orleans Privateers to the RAC on Saturday night (7 p.m.). The match will be broadcast nationally on ESPN+.
 
Admission is free for all Patriots women's volleyball home games played at the RAC.
 
PATRIOT POINTS

• Head coach Megan Shifflett Bachmann makes her George Mason debut this weekend.
• Mason returns 16 letterwinners from a year ago.
• The Green & Gold will be led by its senior class which features Christina Walker, Jewel Clark, Mujay Mambu, Stephanie Der and Yanira Lopez-Barahona. Peyton Ehmke will also lead the Patriots as she returns for a fifth year as a graduate student.
• Ehmke finished second on the team in kills (227) and blocks (61.0) and appeared in every set as a middle blocker.
• Helping to lead the offense will be 2021 All-Rookie selection Olyvia Kennedy, who led the team in kills (258) and kills per set (2.74) a year ago. Fellow sophomore Ewelina Gacek also returns as a top offensive player, registering 177 kills and a team-high 37 service aces.
• Der steadied the Patriot defense a season ago, averaging 2.33 digs per set 
• The 2022 roster features four newcomers including three freshmen: Haley Graetz, Rachel Larsen and Gabriella Gelfound.
• Mason' incoming class also features Wichita State transfer Skylar Goering. The graduate student appeared in nine matches and 17 sets with the Shockers a season ago.

 
 
SCOUTING THE OPPONENTS
Howard was picked to finish first in the Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference (MEAC) preseason poll, gathering nine first place votes, after finishing 18-13 (12-2 MEAC) and defeating Delaware State in the conference championship a season ago. Sophomore and 2021 MEAC Rookie of the Year Bria Woodard will lead the Bison along side sophomore Cimone Woodard, as both were named to the Preseason All-League team.
 
American was selected to finish third in the Patriot League behind preseason favorite Colgate and second positioned Army West Point while gathering two first place votes. The Eagles lost to Colgate in the Patriot League championship a year ago, finishing the season with a mark of 19-14 (11-5 PL). Senior Zeynep Uzen will once again lead American after garnering 2022 Preseason Player of the Year and Preseason All-League honors. Graduate student Carlie Fikse also returns to the court with a Preseason All-League nod.
 
New Orleans wraps up its' DMV tour at the RAC with the first ever meeting between the two teams. The Privateers advanced to the first round of the Southland Conference playoffs in 2021 and were led by junior Sheilah Purcell. The defensive specialist earned Preseason First Team All-Southland honors after being named to the All-Southland second team in 2021. 
 
UP NEXT
Mason will head up the east coast for the Seton Hall Invitational. The Patriots will face the host Pirates (Sept. 2) along with Iona (Sept. 3) and Akron (Sept. 3).