One week after taking the WVU Classic Championship, the Mountaineer volleyball team suffered its first two losses of the season to finish third at the Patriot Invitational.
WVU headed into the George Mason Tournament with a perfect 4-0 record but would drop two of its three matches, including the opener against UNC Charlotte (4-2) and George Mason (3-3).
The 49ers swept the three sets from WVU 26-24, 25-20 and 25-17. The Mountaineers were led by junior outside hitter Michelle Kopecky, as she had 10 kills and three digs. Kopecky was named to the all-tournament team as she compiled 31 kills, 16 digs and six service aces over the weekend.
Despite the two losses, Mountaineer head coach Jill Kramer remained positive.
"They were great," she said. "Everybody stayed really receptive the whole time, and they all gave each other really good feedback and stayed positive."
West Virginia had strong play from their setters throughout the tournament. Junior Kari Post finished with 13 assists through two sets but had to have her minutes monitored throughout the tournament while battling a sickness.
Freshman setter Lisa Riedel filled in for Post and dished out 14 assists against Charlotte. Riedel got her first career start against Army and handed out 34 assists and finished the weekend with a total of 59.
"(Riedel) played really good. When she came in the offense wasn't out of sync. It was like a seamless transition," Kramer said.
Kramer went against Charlotte head coach Chris Redding in the tournament. Kramer and Redding were both assistants at Alabama prior to Redding's move to Charlotte in 2007.
"If I had to take a first loss from anyone, it would be him," Kramer said of Redding.
The second game of the tournament featured last year's Colonial Athletic Association champions, George Mason.
After only dropping one set during the WVU Classic, the Mountaineers dropped all three sets again to George Mason (25-21, 25-22 and 26-24). Senior libero Bonnie West had 13 digs to go with two aces while Post chipped in with 15 assists and nine digs.
"We stepped up and fought hard, but it was just too little, too late," Kramer said.
The Mountaineers went on an 8-0 run in the second set to take a 21-14 lead and eventually a win in their tournament final against Army.
The Black Knights responded with a 10-3 run and tied the set at 24. WVU would persevere as they took a one point lead on a Lauren Evans kill. The two would team up on the next play and block Army's kill attempt to clinch the set.
West Virginia returns to action Friday in Winston-Salem, N.C., with the Black and Gold Challenge hosted by Wake Forest. The Mountaineers will take on the Demon Deacons Friday at 7 p.m., before facing East Carolina at 10 a.m. and Campbell at 4:30 p.m. Saturday.
is a member of the 
Be the first to comment on this article!