FAIRFAX, Va. – The Duquesne University volleyball team bounced back in a big way Saturday, sweeping George Mason and splitting the two-match weekend set with the Patriots.

Duquesne improves to 5-18 (2-9 A-10) while George Mason moves to 6-16 (2-9 A-10).  

The Dukes flipped Friday's result on George Mason, this time sweeping them. But despite the final score, none of the three sets were easily won, as Duquesne persevered and was able to close each one out.

Duquesne dominated above the net today, blocking 13 George Mason attack attempts, one short of its season high.

Graduate student Elizabeth Osborn had 11 kills and was one of two Dukes in double-digits. She had two blocks.

Senior Morgan Kelly led the Dukes with 12 kills while freshman Carsyn Henschen had nine. They both blocked three shots to help lead the Dukes to victory.

Freshman Ariel Helm tied her season high with six blocks while senior Anita Parrott tied her season high with seven of her own, which was a match high.

Senior Hailey Poling had another 32 assists tonight.

The main difference in the game was the amount of attack errors by both sides. Duquesne had just 10 while George Mason had 29.

HOW IT HAPPENED
Duquesne jumped out to a hot start in the first, getting up 7-2 in what seemed like the blink of an eye. Following a 3-0 run and some back-and-forth, the Dukes were out to a commanding 13-7 lead in the first. Duquesne forced a GMU timeout while leading 17-12, but was then forced to take one itself after Mason fought back to tie it at 21. Luckily for the Dukes, they took four out of the next five to take set one.

Duquesne once again got off to a nice start, going up 10-6 early in the second set. George Mason went on a 4-0 run shortly after to get within one point at 13-12, but Duquesne was eventually able to extend its lead to 18-15. But up 22-18, the Dukes gave up the next five and found themselves trailing 23-22. Just like the first set, the Dukes were able to find points at the end of the set and scored three-straight to win set two.

Set three was also close, but Duquesne found itself down early instead of ahead. Mason was the one to get out to a 13-6 lead this time, but Duquesne chipped away until it got within one at 18-17, forcing a GMU timeout. The Dukes then took eight of the next 11 points to put this one away and complete the sweep.

GAME NOTES

• This was Duquesne's third sweep of the season and second in four matches.
• Parrott's seven blocks tied her season high and led the match.
• Helm also tied a season high with her six blocks.
• After 12 kills tonight, Kelly ranks second on the team and eighth in the conference with 206 kills.
• Henschen has 221 kills, which leads the team and ranks seventh in the A-10.
• Poling's 707 assists are the second-most in the conference, along with her 8.52 assists per set.

FOLLOW THE DUKES
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