PHILADELPHIA – La Salle (7-7) took its home opener over George Mason (4-10) in straight sets Friday, improving to 2-1 in conference play. Junior
Samantha Graver led all players with 16 kills, while senior
Kathryn Wood tallied 39 assists and eight digs.
HOW IT HAPPENED
- The teams went back and forth to begin the set, with La Salle eventually leading 12-10. That was the home side's largest lead to that point, which was about to change; the Explorers embarked on a 6-2 run to stretch a commanding advantage. The Patriots got within five, but four straight points in response by the Blue & Gold gave the opening frame to the home team.
- George Mason proved that it was up for the fight in the second set. La Salle began well with a 10-6 start, but the visitors answered with six straight points. The sides traded points with Mason leading 17-14, but a pair of kills by senior Catherine Edgington and two errors allowed La Salle to get back in the fight. A back-and-forth ensued putting the Patriots up a pair, but the Explorers refused to drop a set with senior Devin Corah and freshman Marisa Guisti recording kills, plus two aces from Graver, to put La Salle up 2-0.
- The Blue & Gold jumped out to a 14-7 advantage in the third and it would never let George Mason come too close. The Patriots rallied to get within two, the Explorers then outscored them 6-3, Mason would close the gap to 21-18, and a pair of kills by Graver and a score by Corah opened it back up to 24-18. The visitor's got one point back, but Corah subsequently iced the game for La Salle.
INSIDE THE NUMBERS
- Killing it: The Explorers out-killed the Patriots 50-35, their third-largest margin this season.
- Coming up aces: La Salle finished with four service aces to Mason's one, making it five straight games where the Blue & Gold has recorded more aces.
- Graver and Corah were the two Explorers with double-digit kills in the game, tallying 29 between them.
- Besides her game-high assist mark, Wood chipped in to finish a few plays as well. Her three kills tie a season-high for the number three.
- Freshman tracker: Rookie Rachel Hess tallied a game-high 14 digs and added five assists, while Guisti tied the team-high with two total blocks.
UP NEXT
- The Explorers continue their four-game home stretch with George Washington on Sunday. First serve is at 1 p.m.
