This past week, George Mason men's volleyball looked like it had returned to the program's glory days of old taking two spirited wins over conference opponents. Mason began the week on Tuesday with a come-from-behind victory over Juniata at home, losing the first two games 15-10 and 15-11. From there is was all the Patriots and team kill leader Mike Duckworth as they reeled off 15-12, 15-13 and 15-11 wins.
Against St. Francis, it was George Mason jumping out to the two-game lead, taking the first 15-9 and the second 15-5. Poor hitting in the third game stopped any thoughts of a sweep, but the Patriots followed up a 15-12 loss with a 15-2 pounding in the fourth game. The victory improved the team's conference record to 2-1 going into this Friday's conference match with Eastern Mennonite. The team's overall 3-1 record, meanwhile, is the best Patriot start since 1995 when the team reeled off 11 consecutive victories before losing to nationally-ranked Ball State.
Leading the way in kills in both matches was Duckworth, this week's George Mason "Athlete of the Week." His 35 kills against Juniata was a season-high, and even approached the all-time top-five list of 40 by a Patriot in one match. To show that performance was no fluke, he followed that up with 17 kills at St. Francis, but more importantly, hit better than .400 on both occasions. That upped his season kill average over .300. He also led the team against Juniata in digs with 20 and block solos with three. He tied for the team lead in digs against St. Francis with six.
As a 6-5 senior outside hitter from Virginia Beach, VA, Duckworth has become a fixture along the Patriot front line in his four years in Fairfax. Careerwise he will approach the 1,500 career plateau in which only five George Mason athletes have ever attained.