Sports

• Rally Pats Win Eighth Conference Title

  Sports November 25, 2009 at 3:27 am Comments are Disabled

  The women’s volleyball team had a set point advantage in each of the first two sets, but the team was unable to put away the VCU Rams in either set. Despite being down 2-0 on Tuesday night, Mason rallied from behind for the second straight day to capture their eighth conference title in school history. Mason scored the first five points in the fifth set and held on to win the set, 15-9. Junior opposite hitter and middle blocker Holly Goode added the Most Oustanding Player award to her list of accomplishments for the 2009 season. Goode recorded 20 kills and 16 digs. Goode, senior outside hitter Rebecca Walter and sophomore outside hitter Noelle Fanella each recorded double-doubles in the championship match. Sophomore middle blocker Kelsey Bohman and junior setter Fernanda Bartels were named to the All-Tournament Team. Bartels posted 57 assists, and Bohman contributed 13 kills. Mason last won a conference title in 2003. Six years later, the team added their eighth title, placing them in a tie for most conference titles with the William & Mary Tribe. Tuesday night’s championship match was also historic in the sense that Mason became the first team to rally from a two-set deficit […]

   

• Third Try is a Charm

  Sports November 23, 2009 at 10:52 pm Comments are Disabled

  The women’s volleyball team defeated the Delaware Blue Hens when it mattered most. Down 2-1 in sets, Mason prolonged their successful season by taking the final two sets. The VCU Rams swept the William & Mary Tribe in three sets to set up a tantalizing matchup between Mason and the Rams. Junior opposite hitter and middle blocker Holly Goode, who was named the Colonial Athletic Association Player of the Year, led all players with 20 kills. With 14 digs, Goode notched her 10th double-double this season. In their two meetings this season, Mason dropped both matches in straight sets. This time around, Mason built a 20-15 lead, but the Blue Hens rallied to cut the lead to one, 24-23. Mason finally won their first set against the Blue Hens with a kill from Goode. Mason led 18-13 in the second set, but the team was unable to stave off the Blue Hens’ rally. Outside hitter Kelly Gibson served two aces to close the gap to 18-17, and by the time Head Coach Pat Kendrick, the CAA Coach of the Year, called timeout, Mason could not recover from the Blue Hens’ rally. After leading 18-13, Mason allowed the Blue Hens to […]

   

• Mason Dominates the Lady Panthers: Defense Allows 27 Points as Mason Impresses in Exhibition Game

  Sports November 17, 2009 at 4:20 pm Comments are Disabled

  Jerry Holy, Broadside Correspondent Four days before their season opener this past Friday, the George Mason University women’s basketball team outplayed the Virginia Union Panthers en route to a 75-27 victory. The team received a great deal of contribution from each player. Freshman forward Amber Easter led the team with 14 points. Junior guard Brittany Poindexter added 13 points and four steals. Freshman forward Janaa Pickard also scored in double digits with 11 points and added eight rebounds and seven blocks. Freshman guard Rahneeka Saunders had five assists and nine points. From the start, both sides struggled to score. Rising junior guard Ashleigh Braxton helped Mason get on the board after the first two minutes of play. Her effort led Mason to an 11-2 run. Later in the first half, Mason went on the fast-break offense, exploding to a 25-11 run. Mason went into halftime with a 42-14 lead. During the first half, Mason shot 12-of-13 from the free throw line and forced 12 Panther turnovers. “The key plays in the game were the fast breaks we had,” said Poindexter. During the second half, Mason kept up their tempo as they jumped out to a 9-2 scoring run. “I think […]

   

• Putting Out the Flames: Mason Holds on Late to Win Their Season Opener

  Sports November 17, 2009 at 4:17 pm Comments are Disabled

  Fox Parker, Staff Writer The George Mason University men’s basketball team’s 76-72 season-opening win over the Liberty Flames could prove to be microcosm of the season to come. The Patriots were brilliant at times and erratic at times, building up a 19-point lead only to see it dwindle to three with 2:34 to play. The game, which appeared to be in hand midway through the second half, was slipping away from the Patriots until freshman forward Luke Hancock made a fumbling jump shot and, sophomore guard Andre Cornelius made game-sealing free throws. “We are a very interesting team, aren’t we?” said Head Coach Jim Larranaga. “We can play very well for a while, [but] there are always going to be periods whe . . . there’s a little bit of a letdown.” Last season’s leader in just about every statistical category (scoring, assists, 3-point percentage, free throw percentage, and minutes), junior point guard Cam Long could only watch from the bench as his young squad allowed a commanding lead turn into a contested advantage. Long left the game with 17 minutes remaining due to cramps in both legs. “We never really got a good flow offensively,” said Larranaga of the […]

   

• Lady Patriots Make an Opening Statement: Women’s Basketball Wins Opener for the First Time in Four Years

  Sports November 17, 2009 at 4:15 pm Comments are Disabled

  Kiala Haynes, Staff Writer The George Mason University women’s basketball team took the floor on Friday night and were able to get their message to everyone in the Patriot Center – “We are here to win.” The Patriots were able to defeat Norfolk State in the season’s opener, 66-49, and proved to their fans that they are a sight to watch. The lead changed six times during the first half, but freshman guard/forward Amber Easter scored two points on the line, making the lead 21-20. From there, Mason did not lose their lead. There was a slow finish to the first half of the game, and most of the team’s points were made on the line with Easter and junior guard Brittany Eley making both of their shots. Junior guard Brittany Poindexter and sophomore Rachel Robinson, who scored double-digits in the game, were also able to contribute four points at the end of the first half. Staring off the second half, the Patriot’s junior guard Ashleigh Braxton, whose scoring total ended up in double-digits as well, made two three-pointers in the first minute of the half. This aided the Patriots in finding their rhythm as they began their 8-0 run […]

   

• The Classical Libero: Boryc Digs the Green and Gold

  Sports November 17, 2009 at 4:13 pm Comments are Disabled

  Brian T. Chan, Sports Editor The Boryc File Favorite Food: Deep Dish Pizza from Lou Malnati’s Favorite Vacation Spot: Honduras Favorite Actress: Kate Hudson Favorite Movie: How to Lose a Guy in 10 Days Favorite Music: Rascal Flatts It is in the libero’s convention to serve as the defensive specialist on the volleyball court. Yet, there are instances when the libero is part of the offensive attack, recording an unusual kill. For sophomore libero Katrina Boryc, the spontaneity of her first collegiate kill came as a shock to her. Boryc is a key source to the women’s volleyball team’s success in the 2009 season. In 92 sets, she has 215 digs and 31 service aces. George Mason University is currently in the midst of competing in the postseason, which will be their first appearance since the 2007 season. Boryc, originally from Naperville, Ill., came to Mason after helping her high school volleyball team win a conference championship in her senior year. Whereas certain areas produce very talented athletes in certain sports, volleyball has been known for its dominance in the Chicago area. “Volleyball is big where I live,” said Boryc. “I started [playing] in fourth grade. I live a couple […]

   

• Sports at a Glance

  Sports November 17, 2009 at 4:02 pm Comments are Disabled

  Ryan Dempsey. Staff Writer NCAA Football Top 25 This past weekend featured some major games in college football. Some could determine a team’s placement in bowl games, while others could cost some teams a bowl game appearance. One of the most exciting games was when 11th-ranked Ohio State University (9-2, 6-1) upset tenth ranked University of Iowa (9-2, 5-2), 27-24. Another exciting game came as the University of Stanford (7-3, 6-2) went on the road to defeat ninth-ranked University of Southern California (7-3, 4-3) 55 to 21. Notably, the University of Southern Florida (6-4, 4-2) defeated 15th-ranked Houston University 37-32, while the University of North Carolina (7-3, 3-3) defeated 14th-ranked University of Miami (FL) (7-3, 4-3) by a score of 33-24. NFL This past weekend in the NFL, there were games that were exciting, boring and just plain expected. We all knew that the Cincinnati Bengals (7-2) vs. Pittsburgh Steelers (6-3) game was going to be one of tough defense and sure will, but I do not think anyone expected the Steelers’ to lack a touchdown the whole game. It was apparent that the Bengals were a better team as they defeated the Steelers 18-12 and remained unbeaten in conference […]

   

• Fall Sports Recap: Teams Conclude 2009 Season

  Sports November 17, 2009 at 3:58 pm Comments are Disabled

  Cody Norman, Broadside Correspondent Men’s Cross Country The George Mason University men’s cross country team competed at the Cavalier Open in Panorama Farms in Earlysville, Va. on Nov. 6 in its final meet before the NCAA Southeast Regional Championship meet. Sophomore Daniel Callan ran his way to a seventh-place finish in the Open, posting a time of 25:24.63. Freshman Philip Blankenship (26:41.50), freshman Andrew Pitts (26:52.25) and sophomore Henry Loehr (26:56.65) all finished in the top 25 in the 8K run. On Sept. 22, sophomore Everett Hackett was named the CAA Men’s Cross Country Runner of the Week after posting a 25:10.50 on his way to a third-place finish at the Lou Onesty Invitational. Women’s Cross Country The women’s cross country team finished as the runner-up to the Delaware Blue Hens in the team scoring for the women’s 5K with a total of 65 points. Freshman Rochelle Sceats and sophomore Sandy Castro finished second and third, posting times of 18:26.53 and 18:59.04, respectively. Freshman Laura Sinclair rounded out the top five with a time of 19:08.65. At the CAA Championships, the Patriots put together 126 points to finish third place in the 6K race. Both Sceats and Sinclair earned All-CAA […]

   

• The Dear Sisters Letter

  Sports November 17, 2009 at 3:49 pm Comments are Disabled

  To my seniors, First, I have no words to describe how much you mean to me. After three years of having a routine together and seeing each other every day, it’s hard to think that the season will be over soon. It is hard to think that we played our last home game together this past Saturday. I still cannot imagine going on the court without you being there. My definition of George Mason University volleyball includes having Laura Turner, Rebecca Walter and Sam Simmonds as teammates. I do not know what is to come of Mason volleyball without you. You were the ones who guided me through all my years at Mason so far, on and off the court. Whether I needed a shoulder to cry or had a smile to share, you guys were always there for me. You were my role models, the people I would look up to when I questioned myself. Now, I have to grow up. I have always been the baby, the young one. Now, I have to become the older sister, the responsible one, and play the role you always played for me, which scares me to a certain extent. It scares […]

   

• The Playoff Picture

  Sports November 14, 2009 at 6:03 pm Comments are Disabled

  The women’s volleyball team can clinch the third seed with a win tonight against the James Madison Dukes. Mason’s CAA Tournament first round opponent has yet to be determined. Currently, the Delaware Blue Hens sit in second place. The Blue Hens, whom Mason surrendered all six sets to this season, won their past three matches. The current conference leader VCU Rams extended their winning streak to eight games after last night’s win against the Georgia State Panthers. With a new playoff format, Mason reached postseason the hard way, finishing in the top four whereas six teams qualified for last year’s tournament. This season, Mason will be the underdog as the only team in the upcoming tournament to not have appeared in last year’s tournament.