Nov. 15, 2008

Box Score

FAIRFAX, Va. - Two Patriots reached double figures in one of the most prolific blocking performances in school history as the George Mason women's volleyball team concluded its season with a 3-1 (25-19, 25-13, 21-25, 25-13) victory against Georgia State on Senior Night at the Field House on Saturday evening.

Mason ends the season with a 9-18 record (5-9 CAA) after winning its final three matches, while the Panthers dropped to 3-25 and 2-12 in the conference.

The Patriots totaled 22 team blocks in the victory, the second-highest single-match total in program history, eclipsed by the 23.5 blocks registered against Maryland in 1996. Additionally, Mason out-hit the Panthers by a .217-to-.015 margin, led by 12 kills from junior Rebecca Walter. Walter recorded her seventh double-double of the year by adding 12 digs.

Senior Jourdan Dozier and junior Laura Turner each slammed home 10 total blocks, while Walter fell three blocks short of a triple-double as she chipped in a career-high seven blocks. For the Panthers, Liz Schaab led the way with 14 kills.

The teams swapped the first four points before Mason took a 6-2 lead with four points in a row. After GSU pulled within four again at 12-8, another quartet of Patriot points expanded the Mason lead to eight. That advantage grew as large as 10 at 24-14, but the Panthers staved off defeat by winning five in a row before a kill by sophomore Fernanda Bartels gave the Patriots the first-set win.

After falling behind early, the Patriots took their first lead at 4-3 and would not trail again in the second set. Georgia State did pull within two points at 11-9, but a dominating 10-0 scoring spree by Mason put the Patriots ahead comfortably as they went to the break with a two set lead.

Georgia State was able to prevent the sweep as they took control of a back-and-forth third set midway through, breaking a 13-13 deadlock with six points in a row. Mason battled back to within three at 23-20, but the Panthers held court to cut the match deficit to one set.

In the fourth set, though, it was the Patriots who pulled away from a tight contest, ultimately earning the victory. Leading 11-8, Mason rattled off seven straight points and expanded its lead as large as 12 points in cruising to the victory.

Three Mason seniors ended their collegiate careers with the victory, as Dozier, Morgan Connell and Chelsea Kropp were each honored prior to the match, their final contest in Green and Gold.