Mason women's volleyball falls to Duquesne 3-0

Mason women's volleyball team tries to keep their momentum going against Duquesne (photo by John Irwin).

Mason women’s volleyball team lost Friday night against Duquesne three sets to none. The Duquesne blocking was the story of the match, which they ended with eleven blocks to Mason’s five. Most of these came in the first set causing the Patriots to switch up attacking formations to get around the blockers. Mason fought hard in the second and third sets but ultimately lost them both.

Duquesne blocking dominated the first set, with nearly early every kill attempt that the Patriots put up repelled by the Dukes. This blocking caused the attackers for the Patriots to change up the way they were hitting, which led to a game-high nine errors in the first set for the Mason attackers. The Dukes blocking and only one attacking error, led to a 15-25 first set loss for the Patriots.

In the second set things changed for both sides. Mason had reevaluated their approach and changed the way they were attacking, and their spikes were able to hit the ground in the second set. Mason raised their intensity and rallied around the momentum they were creating, which allowed them to get big points off of long rallies and create even more momentum. The match was tied at seven, eleven, fifteen, eighteen, nineteen, and twenty-two before a 3-0 run by the Dukes ended the set at 22-25. Seven errors by the Dukes caused the closer final score.

The third set was very competitive. After going down early 3-8, Mason came roaring back to take a 13-12 lead in the set. Mason started to pull away after going up 16-13, but the Dukes’ spiking came alive, as they went on a run of their own to tie the game at eighteen. Mason made some mental errors late in the match that allowed the Dukes to make a 7-1 run to end the third set and the match at 25-19. The Patriots made only five errors in this set but were unable to capitalize on the six errors committed by the Dukes.

Mason sophomore Morghan Martin led the team in kills with a game high 12. Mason senior Tori Price had another great game and led the team with 29 assists for the match. Mason sophomore Bernetta Moore led the team with a game high 15 digs.

With the loss, Mason’s record drops to 6-18 overall and 2-8 in Atlantic 10 conference play.

Mason’s next game is Saturday, Nov. 2 at 7 p.m. at home against defending A-10 champions Dayton.