(Peter Mahler / Fourth Estate)
Mason’s most successful season since 2018 ended during a tight 3-1 loss to VCU
BY PETER MAHLER, STAFF WRITER
Behind a home crowd of “V-C-U” chants on Nov. 21, senior outside hitter Julia Rienks soared through the air to score one final kill to ultimately seal the win over Mason women’s volleyball, ending their season.
Losing 25-20 in the final set of a deceptively close 3-1 match, the Patriots’ disappointment of getting knocked out of the A-10 Championship stung, but it didn’t deter their enthusiasm for the future.
“I’m very proud of our performance today, even though the outcome wasn’t great,” said junior setter Camryn Weldon, whose team-leading 21 assists gave Mason some much-needed offensive help. Throughout the match, both sides struggled to attack due to strong defense.
It was a close battle, with the Patriots blocking VCU 12 times while holding them to a .140 hitting percentage. The Rams returned the favor with unrelenting hustle, plummeting Mason’s hitting to just .120.
Even with the return of A-10 Rookie of the Year Kiera Hamilton, the Patriot attack struggled with consistency versus a Ram defense that would go on to nearly defeat Loyola Chicago in the championship round.
Her -.045 hitting percentage on 12 errors demonstrated the challenge she and her teammates faced on a per play basis and was largely the result of outstanding reactions from the defensive specialists on the Rams.
VCU’s libero, graduate student Haruka Sugimoto, made heroic defensive plays, accounting for a game-leading 19 digs. She gave Hamilton and her teammates headaches by turning great Patriot attacks into VCU scoring chances.
Mason Head Coach Megan Shifflett Bachmann commended the Rams for anticipating the Patriots’ digs during scramble plays, highlighting Sugimoto’s ability in coverage and her teammates for supporting her.
“They executed that skill extremely well, to the point that it was unbelievably frustrating,” she said.
(Peter Mahler / Fourth Estate)
The teams split their first two sets, with the Rams taking the first 25-19. The Patriots stormed back, dominating on the serve and winning the second 25-15.
The Rams would take the final two sets 25-20, as errors and self-inflicted wounds stifled any momentum the Patriots had.
Both sets saw the Patriots rally late for a potential tie. In the third, they were down 19-18, but three Mason errors, including one during the set point, ended things abruptly.
After withstanding a 19-14 deficit and scoring five straight late in the fourth, it appeared the Patriots were rallying to force a fifth set to keep their season alive.
Back-to-back kills by senior outside hitter Haley Graetz, Hamilton and freshman setter Ava Cheney sparked the comeback and two VCU errors tied the set at 19, granting the Patriots a chance to finally take command of the series.
Instead, a Mason service error followed by a VCU service ace from graduate setter Elif Ozsoy shifted the momentum. Then, the Rams responded with three straight Ozsoy-assisted kills. With chances in clutch moments, the inexperienced Patriots faltered while the Rams flourished.
The Patriots came into the match with six freshmen on the roster; two of their leading scorers, Hamilton and freshman outside hitter Nia Thompson, played in their first-ever tournament this season.
Despite the sting of this loss, Mason’s youth can hang their hat on their strong play against a team that nearly won it all in this year’s A-10 tournament.
(Peter Mahler / Fourth Estate)
After defeating the Patriots, VCU stunned conference-leading Dayton 3-0 in the semifinal. The Flyers had not lost a single game versus A-10 opponents all season long and appeared to be the overwhelming favorite to win the championship.
Riding the upset over Dayton, the red-hot Rams again impressed by forcing Loyola Chicago into a five-set championship thriller, which featured three overtimes and an average margin of victory at just under three points per game. The Rams would go on to lose to the Ramblers, but their run as a 3-seed would be cemented in A-10 lore.
Reflecting on the season, Graetz says that a lot of the best memories she’ll take with her are from off the court, as she emphasized the closeness she shares with her teammates apart from her connection with them during the game.
“These are my best friends … Everyone has each other’s backs,” she said.
For Graetz, this friendship and sense of camaraderie instilled a confidence that ultimately led the team as far as they went this year.
(Peter Mahler / Fourth Estate)
Shifflett Bachmann spoke proudly of her players after the game, championing the turnaround they helped create while also recognizing the girls who were part of the team before their success.
“I reflect back on some of the past teams that we’ve had,” she said. “We’ve had such amazing kids [who] were just so close so many times and– for one reason or another– it never quite fell our way.”
Moving forward, the future is bright for the young Patriots, who have made a statement on the A-10 stage by surpassing all expectations and reaching their first championship tournament since 2018. With a strong underclassmen core, Mason students can expect big things moving forward for Mason women’s volleyball.