FAIRFAX, Va. - Despite double-doubles from sophomore Hannah Schmidt (Catonsville, Md./Mount de Sales) and senior Ali Loynachan (Whitby, Ontario/Sinclair), the UMBC volleyball team lost to George Mason in five sets, 3-2 (25-22, 17-25, 18-25, 25-22, 15-11), Tuesday evening at the Recreation and Athletic Complex.

Schmidt totaled a team-high 14 kills to go along with 13 digs for her third double-double of the season, while Loynachan recorded a season-high 10 kills while picking up 15 digs.  Junior Ali Goc (Oshawa, Ontario/R.S. McLaughlin) led the Retrievers with 26 digs and freshman setter Paige Miller (Reading, Pa./Schuylkill Valley) set a career-high with 46 assists.

Lolanda Owokoniran paced George Mason (1-2) with 13 kills while Laura Spencer (12 kills, 13 digs) and Tori Price (52 assists, 12 digs) both notched double-doubles for the hosts.

UMBC (2-3) began the contest brightly, staking out to an early 8-3 and held off the Mason pressure for most of the set.  After the Retrievers built a set-high five point lead, 15-10, the Patriots went on a 10-5 run to knot the set at 20.  The squads then traded points to tie again at 21 before the hosts went on a 4-1 run to take the opening frame, 25-22.

Set two continued the even play through the first six points, but then the Retrievers grabbed control with a 6-1 run to take a 9-4 lead following a kill by Schmidt.  Mason was able to cut the lead to two on a pair of occasions, the second one at 14-12, but the visitors put the clamp down from there and took six of the final seven points to even the match with a 25-17 set win. 

The Retrievers kept the momentum going in the third set and once again built an early lead, this time a 9-3 cushion.  After working their way back, the Patriots finally tied the score at 17, but UMBC pushed right back and ran off eight of the next nine points for a 25-18 third set victory. 

Once again UMBC took the initiative in the fourth, winning the first four points of the set. Mason, however, ripped off the next nine points to take the lead and momentum away. Following the pattern set earlier in the contest, the trailing team, this time UMBC, fought back and was able to tie the match.  After a service ace by Miller to knot the set at 12 though, the Patriots retook the advantage, and though they never led by more than three they won the fourth set, 25-22, without losing the lead.

In the fifth, it was a back and forth affair featuring four ties and three lead changes.  Mason finally took the lead for good though at 10-9, and held on for the win, 15-11.

UMBC returns to the court this weekend traveling to the two-day Adidas/Michigan Challenge in Ann Arbor, Mich. on Friday and Saturday.  The Retrievers open tournament play against SEC foe Arkansas on Friday at 4 p.m.  Then on Saturday UMBC takes on tournament host and No. 22 ranked Michigan at 10:30 a.m. followed by Central Michigan at 5 p.m.

DAWG BITES

-        UMBC is now 5-20 all-time against George Mason and has not defeated the Patriots since back-to-back wins in 1998.

-       Tuesday's match was only the third between the Retrievers and Patriots to go to five sets, all of which Mason has won.

-       Hannah Schmidt has recorded a double-double in three of UMBC's five contests in 2012.

-       Freshman Sherelle Walker (New Freedom, Pa./Susquehannock) registered 13 kills against George Mason and leads the Retrievers with 58 kills on the season.

-       Junior Emily Witsaman (Medina, Ohio/Medina) recorded seven block in the match and now has 19 in 2012.