Tribe Set to Play at George Mason and James Madison This Weekend

10/18/07 10:50AM

WILLIAMSBURG, Va. - The William and Mary volleyball team will look to remain atop the Colonial Athletic Association standings when it plays a pair of road contests this weekend at George Mason and James Madison. The Tribe (11-9, 6-1) will take on the Patriots (10-8, 3-3) on Friday at 7 p.m. before squaring off against the Dukes (12-8, 3-3) on Saturday at 7 p.m.

Last weekend, the College earned a pair of 3-0 victories, blanking Georgia State and UNC Wilmington in Williams-burg. Sophomore Lauren Powell came up big in the triumphs, averaging 4.17 kills per game on .477 hitting and 1.17 blocks per game en route to earning CAA Co-Player of the Week honors. Junior Molly Bohman and freshman Ginny Bray also played well and averaged 2.00 bpg and 1.50 bpg, respectively. Junior Kim Mount dished out 12.83 assists per game, and classmate Jill Nowadly led the team defensively with 5.33 digs per game.

As a team, the Tribe currently ranks second in the league in digs (18.49), fourth in blocks (2.42 bpg), and fifth in kills (14.50 kpg), assists (13.38 apg) and opponent hitting percentage (.189).

Individually, Mount ranks second in the conference with 12.45 apg, while Bray is tied for second in blocks with 1.16 per game. Nowadly stands seventh in digs with 4.22 per game, and freshman Erin Skipper’s 3.31 kpg ranks ninth.

George Mason enters this weekend’s action having won three of its last four matches and has a 10-8 record overall and a 3-3 mark in league action. In its last contest, GMU fell to James Madison, 3-2, in Fairfax. Jaqueline Kohler led Mason with 18 kills, while Rebecca Walter provided a double-double with 12 kills and 11 digs. Kohler and Walter are averaging 3.96 kpg and 3.85 kpg, respectively. The College controls the all-time series with the Patriots, 36-23, and has won three of the last four meetings.

James Madison currently has a 12-8 record overall and a 3-3 mark in CAA play. In its last outing, the Dukes defeated Howard, 3-0, as four JMU players had at least eight kills and the team posted a .339 hitting percentage. Allyson Halls leads the squad and ranks second in the conference with 4.23 kpg, while Lindsay Callahan is averaging 3.59 kpg. The College controls the all-time series against JMU, 38-29.