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FAIRFAX, Va. – Four players recorded double digit kills to lead the Towson University volleyball team to a 3-1 win over George Mason on Friday night in Colonial Athletic Association play. The Tigers (18-3, 5-0 CAA) won their 11th straight match with the victory.
"We struggled in several areas tonight and are fortunate to come away with a win," said Towson coach Bruce Atkinson. "We need to play a much cleaner game on Sunday if we are to be competitive with James Madison."
The Tigers got off to a quick start in the first set as a kill from senior Karolina Sawaniewicz allowed the visitors to open up a 10-5 lead. George Mason battled back and took a 20-17 lead in the set on an attack error by the Tigers. Towson used a 5-0 run to go back on top, 22-20. Junior Katy Buck had three straight kills during that stretch for the Tigers. George Mason took a 25-24 lead on a service ace from Lana Zonjic. Towson used a kill from senior Alysha McCreary and a pair of attack errors by the Patriots to win the set, 27-25.
The Tigers and Patriots battled through 12 ties in the second set and found themselves tied for the final time in the set at 21-21. An attack error by the Patriots put the Tigers back on top, 22-21. Towson scored four of the final five points in the set to secure a 25-23 set win which gave the visitors a 2-0 lead in the match.
The third set saw the Patriots come out hot as they scored the first six points of the set. George Mason extended its lead to 17-12 on an attack error by the Tigers. The Patriots held the Tigers to a .150 hitting percentage in the set, en route to a 25-19 set win which forced the fourth set.
Towson opened the fourth set by scoring six of the first eight points, including four kills from senior Marta Machos. The Tigers extended their advantage to 16-8 on a service ace from sophomore Capri Tirrell. A kill from McCreary made it 20-15 in the set. George Mason pulled to within three, 23-20. The Tigers clinched the 3-1 win with a 25-22 victory in the fourth set.
Junior Dayane Van Ass and Machos led the Tigers with 15 kills each in the match. Van Ass hit .344 while Machos added two digs and two blocks. Buck had 14 kills, six digs, two assists and a service aces while McCreary contributed 11 kills. Senior Aubrey Kirven finished with 53 assists and seven digs while Tirrell and sophomore Paige Sekerak each had 10 digs.
Zonjic led George Mason with 23 kills, seven digs and four service aces while Tori Price contributed 43 assists and six digs.
Towson looks to keep its win streak intact when it travels to James Madison on Sunday, Oct. 14 for a 1 p.m. match. James Madison was a 3-0 winner against Delaware on Friday night.
