Volleyball splits home matches

The Dukes overwhelmed rival George Mason University Friday, 3-1, only to follow that victory the next night by losing three straight games to visiting Towson University in Sinclair Gymnasium Saturday night.

During the GMU game,junior setter Krysta Cannon set the JMU career assist record. Cannon has compiled 3,314 in three years.

The Dukes, however, continued their inconsistent play.

"We’ve needed to be more consistent," Cannon said. "Maintaining intensity through all of the games is what we’re working on."

Friday night’s match against the Patriots was far from consistent. The Dukes opened the match strongly, taking the first game 30-20.

"We were a little surprised by how lopsided the first game went," junior outside hitter Emilee Hussack said. "We were prepared for a big game."

GMU then countered with a decisive 30-21 second game. Friday night’s match then began to take on a familiar look. The last time these two teams met was Oct. 2 in Fairfax and after the Dukes took the match’s first game that night, the hosting Patriots swept the rest of the way, winning 3-1.

"We made a decision after that second game that we wouldn’t let that happen again," Cannon said.

Cannon and the Dukes followed through on their decision, blowing out the Patriots 30-18 in the next game and then ending the match with a 32-30 effort.

"Godwin is just a tough place for teams to come in and win at," Hussack said. "It’s a dungeon, but it’s our dungeon."

The loss Saturday night to Towson dropped the Dukes back into fifth place in the CAA. The Dukes have four games remaining in their regular season.