PHILADELPHIA – Women's volleyball improved to 3-0 on the season, defeating George Mason in straight sets to take the home opener. The Explorers, despite being at the minimum number of players, controlled the match and dominated most statistical categories. Junior
Elizabeth Osborn paced all players with 19 kills on .277 hitting, while defensively freshman
Isa Lopez kept play after play alive and finished with 21 digs.
HOW IT HAPPENED
- Neither team separated itself in the early going. La Salle managed some separate when, up 12-11, it tallied three straight points. George Mason battled back to 16-14, but the Explorers scored six of the next eight points to go up 22-16 and maintained that separation to finish the set.
- The home side started strongest in the second, jumping out to 7-3 and capped by a Lopez ace. The Patriots would fight back and take control of the middle part of the frame, claiming a 16-14 advantage. La Salle then dominated the rest of the way, including six straight points and, in total, 11 of the final 13 points.
- The Blue & Gold took the first three points of the third set, with George Mason answering back to take a 6-4 lead. That advantage would be short-lived with five straight scores from the Explorers. After going up 9-6, La Salle never allowed the visitors to tie the game again. The Patriots came very close late when they were down 20-19, but some gritty play by the Blue & Gold late saw the hosts take five of the following eight points and the game.
INSIDE THE NUMBERS
- With six players, La Salle recorded more points (56-42), more kills (42-31), more aces (6-4), more blocks (8-7), more assists (40-29) and more digs (37-32) than the Patriots.
- Master stroke: The Explorers finished with a hitting percentage of .272, compared to George Mason's .154. They also committed fewer attacking errors (14-17) despite attacking 12 more times than their opponent.
- You shall not pass: Freshman Yaiza Franco finished with a season-high six blocks. She also added four digs and three aces.
- Redshirt sophomore Sarah Nahas continued to facilitate the offense with 35 assists. She also added two kills, four digs and two blocks in an all-around effort.
- Sophomore Sydney Stone had a strong outing, finishing with a career-best nine kills on a career-high .261 hitting.
- Senior Reilly Lowe was efficient on the attack with eight kills on .353 hitting.
UP NEXT
- Senior Day! The Explorers face off against Rhode Island on Sunday at 1 p.m. The match will be streamed on ESPN+.
