FAIRFAX, Va. – In the finale of its' non-conference schedule, Mason fell to Seattle University in a five-set battle, 16-25, 25-7, 25-18, 20-25, 9-15.
 
Freshman Caroline Rodriguez had a standout weekend to earn All-Tournament honors. She led the Patriots with 3.77 kills/set (49 total) at an incredible .414 clip. The outside hitter also contributed 11 digs, a service ace and a solid .946 reception percentage with just two errors.
 
Against the Redhawks (4-6) sophomore Gabriella Gelfound registered her second-straight double-double on 21 assists and 12 digs. She also tallied a season-high four aces and four blocks to go along with eight klills.
 
The Patriots (4-8) led early, but a short 4-0 run on kills from three different players gave the Redhawks a 12-10 lead. Mason got back within one, 14-13, but another run gave Seattle a 20-14 lead and it was able to hold off the Patriots to take a one set lead.
 
Mason came back in the second set with vengeance, allowing just seven points, marking a season-low for an opponent. Seattle's first of just two kills cut the lead to three, 7-4, but the Patriots would go on a 12-1 run, highlighted by three services aces from Gabriella Gelfound. The Patriots tallied a game-high 16 kills at a .464 clip while limiting Seattle to -.074.
 
Another strong defensive effort by the Patriots powered them to a set three victory. Mason tallied a match-high six blocks and forced Seattle into nine errors and a .000 hitting percentage. Mason closed out the set by forcing four-straight Redhawk hitting errors to take a 2-1 match lead.
 
Set four was evenly matched, featuring six ties and two lead changes. The last tied came at 19-19 on a kill from Gelfound, but four-straight Patriot errors gave Seattle a comfortable four-point lead that they would hold on to to force a fifth set.
 
Seattle used more solid defense in set five, keeping Mason to just a .111 clip, while hitting at a team-best .353 clip of their own. Six Patriots recorded a kill, but four hitting errors and two service errors proved to be the difference.
 
INSIDE THE NUMBERS

• Caroline Rodriguez once again led Mason with 17 kills and a .312 hitting percentage
• Olyvia Kennedy also had a season-best day on offense, recording 16 kills to go with two blocks and a service ace
• Camille Larkin led Mason for the second-straight game with six total blocks as a part of a team effort that saw 12.0, its' second-most in 2023
• Gracie Halley led the back-row effort with 17 digs and Damiana Bova-Ford paced the offense with 25 assists

 
UP NEXT 
The Patriots will open up Atlantic 10 play on the road next weekend against Rhode Island. The Patriots will take on the Rams on Friday at 6 p.m. and Saturday at 2 p.m.