FAIRFAX, Va. — George Mason (13-7, 5-3 Atlantic 10) lost to VCU (8-8, 6-2 Atlantic 10) 3-1 on Friday. The Patriots split the first two sets before hitting .033 in the third and -.026 in the fourth, with set scores of 25-27, 25-20, 17-25, 15-25.
The Patriots pushed back late, getting a
Kiera Hamilton kill for a 24-23 edge and moving ahead 25-24 on a VCU service error, but VCU scored the final three points to take the first set 27-25. Earlier, the Green & Gold built a 10-4 lead behind four straight service points from
Autumn Martinez-Robinson's serve, including kills by
Nia Thompson and Hamilton and a service ace.
The Green & Gold used a late surge to take control of the second set, turning a 16-15 deficit into a 22-17 lead while winning seven of eight rallies.
Autumn Martinez-Robinson served four straight Patriots points in that stretch, including two aces, and Hamilton added multiple kills during the comeback. The Patriots closed the set 25-20.
The Patriots dropped the third set 25-17 after VCU broke a 9-9 tie with four straight points. The Patriots got back within 14-12 on a
Meredith Brown kill, but VCU kept the margin from tightening further and closed the set with the final three points.
The Green & Gold made its main push after falling behind 7-2, cutting VCU's lead to 9-8 behind kills from Hamilton, Thompson and
Jenna Hunt and a block by
Rylee Kinnell and Hunt. VCU responded by moving back in front 15-9, and the Green & Gold could not close the gap from there. VCU took the fourth set 25-15.
PATRIOT POINTS
Kiera Hamilton
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- 19.5 points
- 18 kills
- 10 digs
- 1 service ace
Autumn Martinez-Robinson
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- 19 digs
- 3 service aces
- 7 assists
Ava Cheney
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- 29 assists
- 5 digs
- 3 kills
Nia Thompson
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- 11 kills
- 6 digs
- 11.5 points
UP NEXT
The Patriots volleyball team hosts VCU again on Saturday, Oct. 17, at 3 p.m. at the Recreation Athletic Complex in Fairfax, Virginia.
