By Zach Gindi-Chiafullo
The Revolutionaries (11-6) powered past George Mason (11-5) in four sets, battling through defensive challenges and late rallies to secure a gritty home victory and extend their strong conference start.
It was the 64th overall matchup between the two rivals, with the Revolutionaries having a 49-15 advantage, winning last year’s two contests against the Patriots, who were coming off a sweep against Duquesne heading into last weekend.
It was never going to be an easy matchup. “When you go into a conference match, there’s always a lot of nerves.”, said Head Coach Katie Reifert. “[George] Mason’s a good team. They’re not just going to come in here and roll over. I mean, they want to beat us up more than anybody.” That’s what made GW’s 50th win against George Mason all the more special.
It was apparent that it was a team effort. Three different players each had three kills early in the first set. Among those players were Cayla Cogan and Taylor Treahy, who each racked up 12 kills for the match. In addition, Treahy had five of the team’s 13 blocks.
Photo By: GW Athletics
GW had trouble responding to George Mason’s defensive endeavors and their fast playing style, headlined by Haley Graetz, who lit up the stat line for the Patriots in the first set and the entire match and finished with 10 kills.
However, the team was able to stay in the game with their offensive alignment and teamwork. Coach Reifert acknowledges that the team is “not a one-trick pony” or a “one woman show. We’ve got a lot of firepower, and when they’re all firing, it’s pretty scary,” Reifert said. The Revolutionaries narrowly won the first set, 25-23.
That firepower evidently continued throughout the second set, as GW dominated throughout. When George Mason took their first timeout, GW was leading 6-1. They looked much more down-to-earth and in the game compared to the first set, being more aggressive on both offense and defense. Four players had four kills by the time of that first timeout.
George Mason did a solid job of keeping rallies going and attempting to rack up points, but it has not been enough to prevent GW’s strong coordination in this set. “In that first set, we weren’t swinging super confidently. We weren’t passing super confidently. And so I just reminded them that what we do works and that we can get kills in the ways that we know how.”, said Reifert when asked about the second set, which GW won in a landslide, 25-10.
It wasn’t all bad for the Patriots, though, as they had notable bright spots on the court. Outside hitter Kiera Hamilton came through with 10 total kills and 5 digs for the match, and Libero Autumn Martinez-Robinson was shining, ending up with 22 digs and a perfect hitting percentage on the night.
In fact, George Mason with the game on the line looked like the strong team their record showed they were, and displayed that they were very much still in the game. They showed consistent prevalence and were able to gain momentum, and won the third set, 25-16.
Reifert mentioned that GW “took their foot off the gas” during the third set, and
“[George] Mason, you know, started doing what they do well, and we just didn’t respond. She added that after the set, she told the team, “We know what we can do about the scene, and again, we know what we do works.”
The Revolutionaries were able to get their foot back on the gas to start the fourth set, eager to get the win by taking it. Cogan and Treahy once again made their presence felt on the court by making key plays on offense and defense, and additionally, outside hitter Alexis Rodriguez had her share of the spotlight, especially in this set. She ended the match with eight kills and 11 digs.
The players were scoring points consistently, and their resilience proved overwhelming for George Mason. They clinched the fourth set with a score of 25-14, winning the match on their home court and moving to 4-1 in conference play. This remarkable victory against a formidable opponent keeps GW in a strong position in the A-10, just what they need as they prepare for their road trip to New York.
“My team is really locked in right now. I do not doubt that they’re gonna show up to Fordham the same way they showed up to this one,” said Reifert.
Next, the Revolutionaries are set to face another conference rival as they head to the Bronx to take on the Fordham Rams this Saturday at 2:00 PM.
Whoa, GWs 50th win is seriously impressive, but Coach Reifert calling them a not a one-trick pony might be slightly understating things, given Taylor Treahy and Cayla Cogan basically held George Masons feet to the fire! Its funny how the team wasnt swinging super confidently in the first set – maybe they were just saving all their firepower for later? George Mason fought back like the strong team their record promised in the third, showing they *can* keep rallies going, even if GW ultimately showed they know what works (probably involving Treahy and Cogan firing). And Reifert telling the team they know what we do works after the third set sounds less like a pep talk and more like, Okay, lets break out the secret weapon kills again. A great team effort, indeed!lucky wheel
Haha, this is such a team effort, isnt it? Forget GW not being a one-trick pony – its more like a whole orchestra playing different instruments really well! One minute theyre not swinging super confidently, the next theyre blowing Mason out like its a game of tennis with easy points. And then, oops, they took their foot off the gas! Mason gets a timeout, suddenly theyre the strong team their record showed they were. Talk about mental games! But hey, good for GW for finding their firepower again and not being a one woman show. Sounds like a win well-earned by everyone on the court, even if the coach had to remind them what they could do a few times. Great read!hẹn giờ online
Wow, GWs 50th win is scary firepower! It seems Coach Reiferts team isnt just a one-trick pony, though sometimes they looked more like a one-slip pony running on sandpaper! Good to see Haley Graetz lighting up the stats, even if the GW team just works and hits in the ways they know how. Kiera Hamilton and Alexis Rodriguez certainly showed they could get kills. But lets be real, when your opponent starts looking like the strong team their record showed they were, maybe you should double-check that what we do works isnt just wishful thinking! Go GW, now lets hope the foot stays firmly on the gas!
Haha, reading about GWs powerful offense and not a one-trick pony makes you almost forget George Mason came back to win the third set! Good thing Coach Reifert has all the confidence in the world, reminding the team what works after *that* particular lesson in humility. And those Patriot bright spots? 10 kills and 22 digs – impressive, sure, but maybe next time GW can keep the foot *fully* on the gas from start to finish? Or maybe Reifert just needs to find a new trick! Either way, GWs 50th win feels less special and more like a close call in these articles.quay random
Wow, GW truly showed theyre not just a one-trick pony here! Its great seeing Cayla Cogan, Taylor Treahy, and company laying down the kills left and right. But honestly, George Mason put up a fight, especially in that third set, proving they *can* respond. Coach Reiferts pep talks sound like they hit the mark. Its like GW had its foot on the gas most of the time, while Mason learned to hit the accelerator too. A well-deserved win, though Mason definitely made it a game! Go Revolutionaries!
This GW win reads like a team that finally remembered all its trick cards, not just the hitting like Graetz one! Its funny how they started the match not swinging super confidently, yet somehow found it later. Coach Reiferts we can get kills in the ways that we know how sounds like a master plan for, well, *their* ways. Good to see Kiera Hamilton and Alexis Rodriguez getting their firepower on, though. George Mason fought like the strong team their record showed they were, basically proving the Revolutionaries right when they took their foot off the gas. Ah, the drama!basketball stars
Haha, what a nail-biter! Sounds like GW had their firepower fully engaged, especially in that dominant second set. Poor George Mason, trying their best with their prevalence, but the Revolutionaries just kept racking up the kills like it was going out of style. Coach Reifert calling it a not a one-trick pony show was spot on – and those kills from Cogan, Treahy, and Hamilton were the fireworks! Though, George Mason did show some swinging confidently in the third set – almost made it interesting, but GW quickly reminded everyone what works. Go Revolutionaries! 🏐💥last prophecy deltarune