TAMPA, Fla. –
George Mason took a 3-0 win over Texas A&M-Corpus Christi in
the Islanders' third and final match at the South Florida Best
Western Invitational.
Freshman Beth Fionda led the Islanders with 13
kills with just two errors on 24 attacks, while Jordan Wagner was
equally efficient with nine kills with just one error. Mason's
Rebecca Walter and Jaqueline Kohler recorded double-doubles with 15
kills and 10 digs and 14 kills and 11 digs respectively.
The Patriots' 30-17, 30-27, 30-27 win improved
them to 7-4 overall, while the Islanders fell to 3-9. In the first
game, George Mason jumped out to a 21-6 lead in the first game
before the Islanders cut it to 25-15 after an attack error by
Fernanda Bartels. Mason would go on a 5-2 run to close out the
first game to take a 1-0 match advantage.
In the second game, Wagner gave the Islanders
a 10-7 advantage on a kill and would lead until the Patriots tied
the game at 18 on a service ace by Walter. The Patriots took a
short lead until A&M-Corpus Christi tied the match at 25 on an
error by Walter. The Islanders would tie the match again at 27 each
before three-straight kills by George Mason gave it a 2-0 match
advantage.
In the third, a ball handling error by setter
Jessica Jennett gave the Patriots a 2-1 advantage which they would
not lose the rest of the game. George Mason jumped out to a 17-12
advantage, until the Islanders used a 5-3 run to pull within one
(20-19). They would pull within one once again late in the game,
but would come no closer.
The Islanders will remain on the road for four
more matches as they open Southland Conference play on Thurs.,
Sept. 20 at UT Arlington.
