Time to Thrill with the Kill: Mason Women’s Volleyball Takes on the Tigers and Blue Hens in Weekend Series

By Brian T. Chan, Sports Editor

Mason: The George Mason University women’s volleyball team is tied for fourth in the conference, but has the second-best overall record at 14-6.

With every match having great significance to the conference record, this weekend’s two matches can either improve Mason’s chances in qualifying for the Colonial Athletic Association tournament or make it tougher on them towards the end of the season.

After a tough fifth-set loss against the William & Mary Tribe, Mason responded with a strong offensive attack against their rival James Madison Dukes.

Mason out-hit their opponents .314-.128 in the match. After dropping the second set on Saturday, Mason exploded with a .684 attack percentage.

Junior middle blocker and outside hitter Holly Goode led Mason with 18 kills and seven blocks and posted a .455 attack percentage.

Goode is seventh in the CAA with 2.98 kills per set and eighth in attack percentage at .289.

Sophomore middle blocker Kelsey Bohman, who has been outstanding on the defensive side, added six blocks and recorded a tremendous .600 attack percentage, committing just one attack error from her 10 kills.

Bohman is currently the CAA’s top defensive player, leading with 105 total blocks.

Towson University: The Towson Tigers jumped to a 6-2 start this season, but have lately hit a slide, losing their past five matches, three of which were three-set sweeps. The Tigers currently stand at 8-12 with a 1-4 conference record.

Junior outside hitter Britney Loomis lead the team with 175 kills and 23 service aces. Loomis, who transferred from East Tennessee State University after her freshman year, had a strong sophomore campaign with 181 kills and 128 digs. She is on pace to surpass her season high for kills.

Freshman outside hitter Amanda Halls is second on the team with 133 kills and 161 digs. Halls is another asset for a team that can play spoiler as CAA contenders vie for a spot in the postseason.

University of Delaware: The Delaware Blue Hens will attempt to preserve the top position in the CAA as they remain the only team to be undefeated in the conference.

The Blue Hens currently have the best overall record in the CAA at 12-5.

Junior right side and outside hitter Katie Dennehy is the Blue Hens’ top player, leading the team with 204 kills.

She has the second-best kill rate in the CAA at 3.29 per set. Dennehy is looking to record her third-consecutive 400-kill season. Junior setter Jess Chason is the CAA-leading setter with 9.87 assists per set.

In the conference opener, the Blue Hens edged past Mason in three sets.

Chason led all players with 30 assists as the Blue Hens eased to a victory at Viera Court, where they have been a perfect 9-0 thus far.

In just four matches, the Blue Hens are 2-2 on the road. Mason will be a tough customer in Saturday’s shootout between two of the CAA’s top teams this season.

However, Mason will face a difficult task in defending against a robust Blue Hens’ squad.

Update: Mason swept the Hofstra Pride on Friday night to improve their win total to 15 games. Goode eclipsed the 200-kill mark after posting a match-high 19 kills. Sophomore outside hitter Noelle Fanella added 10 kills. Mason scorched the Pride with six service aces.

As of Sunday morning, Mason, with a 4-2 conference record, was in a three-way tie for third in the CAA.