Mason Volleyball Does the Splits

The George Mason High School volleyball team split a pair of games this past week, besting National Cathedral in three sets, but falling at home to Yorktown in five frames.

The Mustangs had to adapt to some strange circumstances in their Thursday match at National Cathedral. Mason not only had to descend into the subterranean gym five stories below ground, but had to adapt to NCAA rules, rather than the Virginia High School League rules that usually govern their matches.

“Our kids had some trouble with the calls at first, but when we figured it out we just took off,” Head Coach Barb Mahony said. Katie Mitchell and Katie Turner combined for some demoralizing blocks at the net that took the wind out of National Cathedral’s sails as Mason cruised to victory 25-22, 25-14, 25-21.

Monday night’s game at Mason was more disappointing. After rallying for a 26-24 first set victory, Mason finally succumbed to a relentless Yorktown team in the four remaining sets 20-25, 25-20, 23-25 and 7-15.

Playing outside hitter, Mitchell averaged three kills and two blocks a game, while setters Sabrina Whitney and Roxy Sweeney were 75-percent accurate with their sets. Whitney, Sweeney, Mitchell, Annie Zwighaft, Christie Ankeney and Brittany Head all had at least one service ace. The team travels to Flint Hill Tuesday, Sept. 21 for its next match.