FAIRFAX, Va. – The Patriots women's volleyball program won their opening match of the Patriot Invitational against the Morgan State Bears, 3-1. Despite a first-set loss, the Patriots rallied to win three straight sets and the match: 23-25, 25-20, 25-18, 25-21.
George Mason started the first set out slow, with the Bears quickly leading 10-5. The Patriots fought back, and a service ace from red-shirt junior
Damiana Bova-Ford tied the set, 14-14. The two teams yo-yoed a few points back and forth, but after a final tie at 23-23, the Bears put away the final two points to win the set.
The second set started with four ties in the first eight points before the Patriots finally broke away with four straight points on the serve of senior
Camille Larkin. They never looked back, leading the rest of the set, and winning 25-20.
After the first few points of the third set, it was all George Mason. A true team effort with important attacks, digs, assists, and kills gave the Patriots a decisive 18-25 win.
Morgan State seemed to have the momentum at the start of the fourth set, jumping out to an 8-3 lead. But, once again on the service of Larkin, the Patriots tied the game, 8-8. With both teams fighting, neither leading by more than three points, the set was tied again at 21. After a George Mason timeout, a kill by sophomore
Chelsea Colter, and three points off of sophomore
Camryn Weldon's service, the Patriots won the set and the game.
Patriot Points
- Senior Olyvia Kennedy led the team with 12 kills and 14 points.
- Colter put up 3.5 blocks and had 8 kills on a 50% hitting percentage.
- Bova-Ford and Weldon each had 21 and 18 assists, respectively.
- The Patriots now lead the series over the Bears, 4-1.
Up Next
The Patriots take on the FDU Knights on Friday, Sept. 20 at 7 p.m. at the RAC. All games at the RAC are free and open to the public. All games that the Patriots are playing in are streamed on ESPN+.
