Sept. 24, 2002

Box Score

FAIRFAX, Va. - A national player of the week continued her hot tear on Tuesday night as George Mason's Aline Pereira produced 34 kills and 13 digs to help the Patriots past Maryland, 3-1 (30-28, 20-30, 30-23, 30-28), in college volleyball action.

It was the fifth straight win for the Patriots (9-3) and the fourth straight loss for the Terps (11-4), who opened their season with 11 straight victories.

Pereira, who was selected the American Volleyball Coaches Association National Player of the Week Monday, led all players with 34 kills and added 13 digs. Natalia Porosa had a dozen kills and a match-high 16 digs.

Maryland also had two players attain double-doubles, as Carey Brennan had 21 kills and 10 digs and Lynnsy Jones had 16 kills and 13 digs.

Additional Terp player highlights were Sarah Treadwell's 11 digs, Amanda Ayres' 10 digs and Aimee Huddleston's 53 assists.

Game one took 30 minutes to play, as the teams exchanged points on almost every rally. Mason, however, was able to break a 27-27 tie and score three of the next four points to finally win. Maryland rebounded with a quick start to game two, but George Mason rallied to tie the game 9-9 before the Terps won the next point and never trailed again.

Mason led wire-to-wire in game three and held advantage through game four after taking an 8-7 lead.

Maryland will face another national player of the week, Georgia Tech's Lynette Moster, when the Terrapins open ACC play on Friday (7 p.m.) at Ritchie Coliseum against the Yellow Jackets. Moster won the AVCA award a week prior to GMU's Pereira. Maryland hosts Clemson on Saturday (5 p.m.).