Broadside Sports

By Chris DeMarco, Staff Writer

The National Collegiate Athletic Association made a proposal to finally expand the men’s basketball tournament — by only three spots. The total of 68 teams is far lower than the 96 many people had wanted the total number to be expanded to.

There are a lot of pros and cons that could be used to expanding the men’s tournament to 96 teams, but the NCAA believes that they reached a “happy-medium” with expanding the field to 68. But does expanding the field by three spots really create more excitement?

Adding four more spots, in my opinion, is a little strange.

What kind of excitement would allowing four more teams into the tournament create? The only logical way of using the extra three teams is to create some sort of play-in game for a select seed for each region. That seems to be the only possible way to make the expansion work.

The extra three spots has to be looked highly upon by smaller, “mid-major” schools like George Mason University and the rest of our Colonial Athletic Association counterparts. The fact still remains that only three extra spots is not enough.

Smaller schools, or “mid-majors” as ESPN likes to call us, haven’t been able to really have a voice until the last five years with our Patriots making it to the Final Four and the Butler Bulldogs falling an inch short of winning the national title this year.

Many big name coaches, like Jay Wright of the Villanova Wildcats and Jim Boeheim of the Syracuse Orange, believe that the tournament still needs to be bigger. It would make the tournament more exciting. Some believe that expanding it by 31 would “dilute” the tournament, which could not be more false.

This past tournament should prove that the more “mid-majors” you invite to “The Dance,” the more upsets and more excitement it would bring. Plus, from a CAA standpoint, more of our counterparts would be given a bigger chance to get in. If the tournament had been 96 spots this year, the William & Mary Tribe and VCU Rams would have easily been selected.

Essentially, the more teams that are allowed the opportunity to play for a national title, the more exciting the tournament will become. The more teams the tournament is expanded by, the bigger the opportunity for the “little guy.”

Plus, looking at it from a financial standpoint, an extra round of play would create millions of extra revenue for all the schools and conferences involved. The NCAA cannot go wrong with expanding the tournament. Regardless, any type of expansion of the tournament is a good thing.

Overall, adding three more spots is a good thing for everyone involved. It could be expanded a little bit more, but three is a good start. The NCAA is probably just seeing how this little bump in teams pans out for the first year.

If it turns out to be a success, the fans can count on the NCAA on finally expanding the total to 96 and giving every school a realistic shot at participating in the tournament.

By John Powell, Asst. Sports Editor

Recruiting is possibly the most important aspect of college sports. I have seen high schools recruit, but when a significant portion of league funds is divided to member schools based on performance, it becomes more important.

During this time of the year, recruiting is of high importance for George Mason University fans. I assume that most people reading this column are fans of the National Football League and would have watched the Washington Redskins draft the most athletic offensive lineman from college football.

Well, everyone can take the important qualities from their mock draft into account when they see what the Patriots’ men’s basketball team needs next year.

First of all, and most importantly, the team has successfully recruited point guard Bryon Allen. He comes to the Patriots after considering other schools like Siena and George Washington. As much as I love our men’s basketball team, the staff would have had to make quite an offer to pull Allen away from those schools. Allen is ranked as the 43rd-best point guard in this year’s recruiting class with a score of 90.

Because of his skill and 215 pounds of court dominance, I believe the offer was, as I have said before, to make him a walk-on starter. At very least he would be coming off the bench with a lot of minutes next season until his numbers showed his potential as a starter.

The only player the team lost was Louis Birdsong, who exhausted his total years of eligibility playing for the team.

Honestly, I was a bit surprised that after losing only one player, and getting back players that were lost to injury last season, that the team would recruit any more players.

But they proved me wrong.

Jonathan Aldridge from Kamit Institute was the second, and currently the last, player recruited by the team. He will be one of the biggest players on the court, standing at six-foot-nine-inches although he is a bit lanky at only 220 pounds. It must be something to be more than 200 pounds and be considered lanky.

He considered other schools as well, as is expected, including Temple and conference rival VCU. He is not replacing anyone as far as I see, coming in as a center. He is ranked well, as is Allen, with a grade of 88, placing him as the 34th-best center in this year’s recruiting class.

So what is there to expect from the team next season?

The first thing to expect is that star player Cam Long will have a better year than his 2009-10 season. While this last season saw him score in great streaks, I believe he will be better and more consistent in his senior season.

The reason I believe this is because near the end of the season, Long went on a stretch where his shooting was near the 25-percent mark and will practice to improve that mark. Some will be quick to say that he did not get many open looks at the basket, but that does not account for those shooting numbers from the star of the team.

Everyone knew that he could make free throws when he needed to, as he did as part of the effort to send the VCU game to the overtime win, but he needs to be the dominant factor that his team and his fans can rely on.

Secondly, I saw some underclassmen with breakout games, especially Luke Hancock, who was the gracious recipient of the Colonial Athletic Association Rookie of the Week award. Everyone can expect these guys to create a balanced offense next season, spearheaded by Long.

Finally, these new recruits, especially Allen, should prove to be a needed spark en route to a good year.

By Josh Apple, C2M Contributor

For the first time in school history, the George Mason University club ice hockey team finished .500 in the Blue Ridge Hockey Conference, with a record of 7-7.

The team has been skating below the radar at Mason primarily because of the struggles it has faced in the past.

Although the team has been in existence for about a decade, victories have been few and far between until the 2009-10 squad took to the ice.

“It’s all about commitment and chemistry,” said 23-year-old graduate student Erik Gibbons. “Our previous coach had no ability to keep our lines together for more than a couple games. It really was terrible because we couldn’t develop any chemistry.”

Gibbons has been on the team for four years and has witnessed it develop from struggling for survival to having a bright future and a new coaching staff.

Gibbons is the only player not returning to the team next year, and the interest continues to grow. Each year, more and more players come to tryouts and want to be a part of the building process.

“My favorite memory was this past season because I was actually going into games without expecting to lose,” said Gibbons. “I knew we had a chance to win every game.”

Although Gibbons’ career at Mason has come to its end, the team is loaded with returning veteran players.

Matt McVay, a 22-year-old fourth-year student, will be returning to the team for one more season.

McVay is staying in school for five years because he is double majoring in sport management and business management.

Not only is he the captain and president of the squad, he is the team’s leader in statistics as well.

“If someone isn’t doing something right, I’m the first one to let them know and to help,” said McVay. “I’m usually hard on myself too,
though. But I’m the first to give someone props if they do something well.”

McVay began playing competitive ice hockey when he was 16 and has not slowed down since.

McVay played for the Virginia Express B Team until he was 20, and then began his Mason career. Next year will be his third year with the Patriots.

“This team is one of the most fun teams I’ve been on,” said McVay. “We’re all good friends and we’re starting to learn everyone’s tendencies on and off the ice, which just makes it lots of fun.”

Chris Shrieves, 22, is another returning veteran player for the Patriots. He played for Christopher Newport University before transferring to Mason. As a government and international politics major, the Northern Virginia area drew him in.

“These guys have made me feel a lot closer to Mason,” said Shrieves. “It’s good to know people right away when you transfer, and we are all pretty close.”

Shrieves has one year left of hockey eligibility. He has just one goal left: to win the Blue Ridge Conference Championship.

“I’m really proud of everyone’s effort this year,” said Shrieves. “We all knew we could win and tried to win. We just missed the playoffs but at least came close, and it’s something we can build on.”

Alex Spitzel, a 22-year-old senior and sport management major, will also be playing with the team for one more season.

Spitzel is the starting goalie for both the ice hockey and the roller hockey teams at Mason. Along with McVay, Spitzel plays a leading role for the squad on and off the ice.

“I consider myself a leader, and I pretty much am one,” said Spitzel. “As the general manager, I pretty much do everything for the team, along with the president and coach. For example, I manage the budget, schedule games, and make sure the team is organized and gets to where [it needs] to go.”

Spitzel foresees success both next year and in the years to come. He has seen the talent level and the determination to win rise exponentially since he began playing for the Patriots.

Like Gibbons, he believes the primary change has been the increased chemistry among the players and coaches.

“We can be described in one word: brotherhood,” said Spitzel. “We are a family, on and off the ice. I will miss that the most when I’m gone.”
After next year, McVay, Shrieves and Spitzel will all have completed their collegiate ice hockey careers. They will be leaving behind a legacy of building the program into a playoff-caliber team.

“I think if we get some more leadership in place after I leave, we will be one of the better teams in the league,” said McVay.

Chris Christopher, a 20-year-old sophomore, has been a solid defensive contributor for the Patriots in his two years with the team.

Christopher received a concussion in his very first game his freshman year against Roanoke College, permanently earning him the nickname “Lights Out” and making him one of the favorites of the upper classmen.

“As crazy as the older guys are, they are really mature in terms of hockey and set a good example for the younger players,” said Christopher.

Christopher expects to make it to the playoffs for the final two years of his career. He also anticipates taking on a leadership role once the veterans graduate.

“It’s going to happen; I’m going to be a leader,” said Christopher. “I just need to go beyond what’s asked of me. I’m going to practice all summer and play as much as I can to improve my game.”

If Christopher and the other new arrivals can step up and fill the shoes of Gibbons, McVay, Shrieves, Spitzel and the remaining upper classmen upon their departures, the future is bright.

Gibbons remembers multiple games from his first two seasons in which the team traveled with just six players.

It is difficult for him to be optimistic, but even he feels there is a strong chance for success in the near future.

“There [are] two paths this team could take,” said Gibbons. “It could default because Northern Virginia isn’t good at liking hockey unless teams are doing well, or it could keep trending up and garnering interest as more and more players try out for the team. I’m really hoping and thinking it’s the second one.”

The players understand they need to make a few playoff runs before they can become a well-known entity.

However, if they do in fact continue trending upward into next season and beyond, the players feel the Mason Nation will quickly jump on the bandwagon.

Men’s basketball, baseball, men’s soccer and women’s volleyball have all made it to the NCAA Tournament recently, and the students have done a great job of showing their support.

“I see this team being a staple at Mason, something everyone knows about and can set the standard for the school’s winning ways,” said Shrieves. “And as big as hockey is getting around here, I think without a doubt we have a chance to be more than a club team, and become an NCAA team.”

By Brian T. Chan, Sports Editor

Early Wake-Up Call
The George Mason University softball team jumped out to an early lead in both games against the Mount St. Mary’s Mountaineers in Wednesday’s doubleheader. While they took the first game 5-1, the Patriots were unable to follow through, losing 11-3 in the nightcap.

Mason moved to 15-20 on the season while the Mountaineers stayed at two games above .500 at 22-20.

Sophomore center fielder Alyssa See punched in three hits and scored two runs in the first game as the Patriots tallied four runs in the first inning.

The Mountaineers scored a run in the bottom of the third inning, but Mason quickly regained the four-run advantage by scoring one in the fourth inning. Sophomore first baseman Katie Rynex, the team’s leading RBI producer, hit a two-out single to score See from second base.

Anderson, who gave up one run on six hits while striking out seven batters, retired the side in the last two innings.

The Patriots again gained the early advantage, scoring a run in the first inning of the second game. Sophomore second baseman Tori Dudley led off the game with a single and made her way around the basepath by swiping each base. Entering the game with only one stolen base, Dudley managed to steal three bases in that one inning.

The Patriots were in attack mode later in the fourth inning as they extended their lead to 3-0. Sophomore starting pitcher Miranda Cranford allowed just one hit in the first three innings, but she was unable to sustain her solid start as she ran into trouble in the bottom of the fourth inning.

The Mountaineers tied the game with a three-run fourth inning. Sophomore designated player Liz Christiansen smoked a three-run blast as part of the four-run fifth inning. She later doubled in another run in the sixth inning to add onto her five-RBI day.

The Mountaineers’ top three hitters in the lineup combined for nine hits, seven runs, and nine RBIs.

Cranford ended the day, losing for the 12th time this season after allowing 10 runs on 10 hits in 5-1/3 innings. Two of the flyballs she gave up were the two three-run blasts to Christiansen and sophomore shortstop Beebe.

No. 2 Cavaliers Prove a Handful for Mason
Riding a six-game winning streak, the George Mason University baseball team faced a huge test against the nationally-ranked powerhouse Virginia Cavaliers in Charlottesville, Va.; for a third of the game, the Patriots smelled upset, but that did not last long as the Cavaliers trounced Mason 10-3 on Wednesday.

Mason dropped to 23-12 overall and lost on the road for the first time since April 4, while the No. 2 Cavaliers improved to 31-9.

Senior starting pitcher Kris Mengle took the mound for Mason; after giving up a two-out triple in the first inning, he settled down as he retired the next four batters in his two-inning appearance.

Outscoring their opponents 58-21 during the six-game stretch, the Patriots’ offense emerged in the third inning to take a 2-1 lead. Junior catcher Brett Hendricks led off with a single, and sophomore right fielder Dan Schafferman followed with a single.

Sophomore center fielder Jeremy Haas, who went 2-for-5 on the day, got a bunt single on an 0-2 pitch, and Hendricks scored Mason’s first run on a throwing error from Cavaliers sophomore third baseman Steven Proscia. Sophomore left fielder Brig Tison grounded into a double play, but the Patriots took the lead as Schafferman crossed the plate on the play.

Mason was unable to hold onto the lead as the Cavaliers struck for seven runs in the next three frames. Redshirt junior pitcher T.J. O’Grady gave up six hits and five runs in one inning and was charged with the loss.

The Patriots scored their third run of the game in the seventh inning as Haas scored on one of the Cavaliers’ four errors in the game. The Cavaliers were too powerful for the Patriots, scoring two more runs in the bottom of the eighth inning to extend the lead to 10-3. Mason concluded the road trip with a 4-1 record.

By Brian T. Chan, Sports Editor

Alumni/Senior Weekend did not get off on the right foot for the George Mason University softball team as the Patriots dropped both games on Saturday against the Georgia State Panthers, falling in a tougher position as they fight for a spot in the Colonial Athletic Association Tournament.

The Panthers won the first game 3-0 and cruised in the second game, 6-0. Falling to 15-22 overall and 4-8 in conference play, Mason was shut out for the first time since April 3.

The Panthers, on the other hand, continued to create separation from the rest of the conference, improving to 31-14 on the year and 10-4 in the conference. Georgia State is second to the Hofstra Pride in the CAA standings.

Freshman right fielder Whitney Phillips started the Panthers’ scoring in the first inning with her third homerun of the season. The solo blast came with two outs. The Panthers scored two more runs in the third inning on a two-run triple from freshman center fielder Audrey Mason.

Mason scattered four hits in the seven innings while senior starting pitcher Becky Anderson limited the Panthers to five hits and three runs in her complete game. Anderson struck out five batters in the loss.

Anderson, who went 1-for-2 on offense in the first game, pitched the 90th collegiate game of her phenomenal career at Mason.

“She has been a real centerpiece of everything we have done over the last four years,” said Head Coach Joe Verbanic. “Obviously, being a No. 1 pitcher, she gets the ball a lot, but she also has swung the bat for us and played other defensive positions.”

Panthers freshman pitcher McCall Langford allowed just four hits without walking a batter in her complete game gem.

In the second game, the Patriots left a total of nine runners on base while the Panthers stranded five runners.

The Panthers loaded the bases in the top of the third inning, and with two outs, Mason lined a single into right-center field, bringing in two runs.

Georgia State started the scoring with three illegal pitches from Patriots sophomore starting pitcher Miranda Cranford, which cost the Patriots a run. Mason, who went 2-for-3 with four RBIs in the second game, connected on the pitch and gave the Panthers a 3-0 lead.

Mason came back in the bottom half of the inning with two two-out singles from sophomore second baseman Tori Dudley and sophomore center fielder Alyssa See, but the chance to bring home runs ended as sophomore shortstop Rachael Davies popped out to junior second baseman Rebecca Roles.

The Panthers put up another three-spot in the fifth inning as freshman third baseman Paige Nowacki recorded an RBI single, and Mason drove in two more runs to extend the lead to 6-0. All runs in the game came with two outs.

Panthers sophomore pitcher Alana Thomas tossed six innings, allowing four hits and striking out one batter. Sophomore pitcher Erin Collins came in the seventh inning and closed the door on the Patriots.

Cranford fell to 5-13 on the season after going 4-2/3 innings, allowing six runs on five hits. She struck out four batters and walked five.

As of Saturday night, fourth place remains up for grabs as the Drexel Dragons, Delaware Blue Hens, and James Madison Dukes vie for the last spot in the upcoming CAA Tournament.

The Patriots took a hit with the two losses, losing ground on the fourth place team. Despite the position, the team remains optimistic about the path of its future development.

“This team has a lot of heart,” said Verbanic. “[We] work extremely hard, and we’re closing the gap on this conference. I told [the team], ‘We’re dangerous, we are a dangerous team, and when we put it all together and play well, people need to look out.’”

Senior left fielder Kate Bustin, who recorded a hit in the second game, also played her final game on Sunday.

“I’m glad she has been with this program because she has helped us grow,” said Verbanic. “She had a good day [on Saturday]; she played some nice left field for us.”

Anderson and Bustin were honored before their last home conference game on Sunday.

By Brian T. Chan, Sports Editor

Named to the Eastern Intercollegiate Volleyball Association All-East first team, sophomore middle blocker Lance Rogers defended his recognition with a solid performance on Saturday as the George Mason University men’s volleyball team swept the Rutgers-Newark Scarlet Raiders 30-19, 30-28, 30-23 in the quarterfinal round of the EIVA Tournament.

Mason will head to University Park, Pa. next week as they meet the Princeton Tigers in the semifinals on Thursday at 5:30 p.m. at Penn State University’s Rec Hall.

“Last few weeks we’ve been playing better and better,” said Head Coach Fred Chao. “I think this is one of the best representations so far. Last week against Penn State was really good for us for a stretch, but I think the timing is good since we’re playing better.”

The Patriots improved to 8-18 while the Scarlet Raiders, the Hay division’s top team, fell to 13-13. Mason, the third seed, hosted the first ever tournament match at the RAC; in front of 223 fans, the Patriots’ offense ignited from the get-go.

Chao acknowledged the team’s early start to help them stave off the late Scarlet Raiders rally.

“It’s extremely important because Rutgers is a great team and they got nothing to lose, and that makes them extremely dangerous, so if you don’t take the will out of them early, then they’re going to keep pushing,” said Chao. “Once we let off the gas early, they started pushing on us, but I think we’ve figured out how to be stronger and push back.”

The Patriots built a 12-9 lead early in the first set, and as they gradually increased their lead, Scarlet Raiders Head Coach Karl France became flustered with his team being unable to hold off the Patriots’ attack.

Mason extended its lead to 22-14 later in the set and eventually closed it with a 30-19 win.

Both teams battled closely in the second set as the Mason held a lead of no larger than two due to the trading of points.

The point of separation came when Mason took an 18-15 lead, but the Scarlet Raiders did not back down easily as they closed the gap to 23-22.

Mason scored the next three points, and while the Scarlet Raiders cut the Mason lead to two points, a kill from Rogers put the Patriots up 29-27. After the Scarlet Raiders took the next point, Mason took the set as the Scarlet Raider player served into the net.

It appeared that Mason would walk away with an easy third-set win, scoring seven of the first eight points and taking a commanding 11-2 lead. But, the team that went 8-0 in the Hay division crept back slowly, turning an eight-point deficit at 14-6 to a two-point match with Mason holding on at 25-23 late in the set.

Freshman outside hitter Michael Kvidahl, who led all players with 15 kills, put the Patriots ahead 26-23.

Two blocks from Rogers set Mason up with a 29-23 lead before they sealed the deal to advance to the semifinal round.

Rogers posted an .800 attack percentage on eight kills without making an error. He added six blocks, including a solo block to give him 11.5 points in the match on Saturday.

Rogers entered the match averaging 1.28 blocks per set, fifth in the EIVA and 16th in the nation. He also had 1.92 kills and 2.69 points per set, earning him first team honors.

Rogers, however, feels that he was not the lone recipient from Mason of the award.

“I was actually pretty surprised because in the beginning, there were [some] rough patches between me and the coaches and the team as a whole, and towards the end, we found a way to work it out,” said Rogers. “It’s more of a team award because I can’t do it by myself. I need people passing me the ball, people setting the ball. It’s kind of a whole team effort put in to that award.”

The team looks to make its push once more against the second-seeded Tigers next week.

By Brian T. Chan, Sports Editor

From a hitting clinic to a 20-inning marathon, Saturday was just another wild day in baseball. But it was capped off with a no-hitter.

San Francisco Giants ace pitcher Tim Lincecum dominated on the mound again, tossing six shutout innings and allowing four hits while striking out seven batters. Lincecum lowered his ERA to a miniscule 0.90 as the Giants topped the division rival Los Angeles Dodgers 9-0 on Saturday afternoon.

But, it was not Lincecum’s pitching that started the wild weekend. Instead, the two-time Cy Young pitcher put forth his name in the running for the Silver Slugger Award as he registered three hits in four at-bats.

Lincecum, a career .137 hitter prior to Saturday, got on base in the second inning with a bunt single. An inning later, Lincecum came to the plate in a bases-loaded situation and stroked a single to right-center field, plating two runs.

Lincecum recorded a hit once more with a leadoff single in the fifth inning. He was unable to go 4-for-4 as he struck out swinging in the seventh inning.

Moving on from one Cy Young pitcher to another former Cy Young pitcher, Johan Santana of the New York Mets pitched seven solid innings, allowing just four hits and striking out nine batters.

For the next 11 innings, the Mets and Cardinals put up zeroes back and forth as each team went deep in their bullpen. The teams used a combined 19 pitchers in the game, where some had to go through two innings of work. For the first 13-2/3 innings, the Mets recorded just four hits, but in the last 6-1/3 innings, the Mets punched in six hits.

After going through their bullpen, the Cardinals started using their position players to pitch. Shortstop Felipe Lopez allowed a hit and a walk in his one inning of work; center fielder Joe Mather pitched two innings.

The Cardinals stranded a total of 22 runners on base as the team got only one run out of their 15 hits and 11 walks. First baseman Albert Pujols was the bright spot for the Cardinals, going 2-for-5 and walking four times.

The Mets broke a 1-1 tie in the 20th inning on a sacrifice fly from shortstop Jose Reyes, who finished with a 0-for-7 line.

The game was the longest in the majors since the 22-inning marathon exactly two years ago between the Colorado Rockies and San Diego Padres.

History has not been on the side of the Rockies, but on Saturday night, the team achieved its first-ever no-hitter in franchise history. For the Rockies ace pitcher Ubaldo Jimenez, it was a dream come true as he no-hit the Atlanta Braves in the 4-0 win.

Two weeks into the season, two pitchers had already flirted with the no-hitter and had fallen short of completing the task.

Jimenez, who had his potential perfect game broken up as he issued a walk to the second batter of the game, continued to walk batters in each of the first five innings. Despite allowing a total of six walks in the game, Jimenez was unhittable.

Braves first baseman Troy Glaus led off the seventh inning with a line drive, but with a speedy center fielder behind Jimenez, Dexter Fowler made a diving catch to preserve the no-hitter.

Entering the ninth inning, Jimenez retired 12 consecutive batters, but among the three batters due up, Jimenez had to face two of the Braves’ All-Star sluggers, Chipper Jones and Brian McCann.

Flashing the electric stuff, Jimenez induced a pop-up to second baseman Martin Prado and got Jones to fly out.

On Jimenez’s 128th pitch of the game, McCann hit a weak groundball to the right side; Jimenez raised his arms in elation as second baseman Clint Barmes tossed the ball to first baseman Todd Helton for the final out.

To finalize on the wild Saturday, the Washington Nationals’ 8-0 win over the Milwaukee Brewers marked the first time in over two years when the club peaked above the .500 mark.

By Jerry Holy, Broadside Correspondent

Following their conference championship, the George Mason University women’s volleyball team celebrated by singing “We are the Champions” by Queen.

With the fall season approaching, the team looks to defend the conference title, while sophomore middle blocker Kelsey Bohman and sophomore outside hitter Noelle Fanella look for a big year in 2010.

After an excellent performance in the 2009 season, Bohman and Fanella showed that they were a force to be reckoned with, making contributions on both sides of the court.

Both Bohman and Fanella started in the 32 matches of the 2009 season. For playing in their second year at Mason, the two players are already impact individuals in the conference for their roles on the court.

Bohman led the CAA in blocks per set with 168 blocks and was ranked 16th in the nation. She also led the team in hitting percentage.

Bohman was named to the All-CAA First Team with junior middle blocker and opposite hitter Holly Goode, and to the CAA All-Tournament Team.

Bohman was also named Best Hitter in the Patriot Invitational Tournament and earned CAA Defense Player of the Week twice.

Along with these accomplishments, Bohman was the recipient of the CAA Commissioner’s Academic Award.

Fanella was second on the team with 289 kills. She was also was ranked fourth in digs and aces.

Fanella posted six double-doubles during this past season. She was named to the N.C. State All-Tournament Team.

Fanella had five straight matches with double-digit kills, and also slammed 15 kills and 10 digs for a double-double in the CAA Championship Match against the VCU Rams.

Both Bohman and Fanella also set career highs during the 2009 season. Fanella set a career-high 19 kills against the William & Mary Tribe.

Bohman posted a career high in blocks with 11 against the Cornell Big Red.

Their most memorable moment of the 2009 season was the last point in the fifth set to win the CAA Championship Match against VCU.

Bohman and Fanella said it felt exciting and great to win the CAA title and the automatic bid for the NCAA Tournament.

The team’s celebration did not end at center court. After winning the CAA Championships, the team went to TGI Friday’s to celebrate. They ended up singing karaoke to “We are the Champions.”

The women’s volleyball team spends their free time together. That is a true example of being a team on and off the volleyball court.

Bohman and Fanella, along with the rest of the underclassmen, know they will have to step up as upperclassmen with the departure of seniors Laura Turner, Rebecca Walter and Sam Simmonds.

The upcoming freshmen players will have to do the same if they want to defend the CAA Title.

Bohman is majoring in business and communication because she loves television and media-related items.

Bohman plans on going to graduate school for the same degree and wants to go to New York once she has graduated from Mason.

Fanella is majoring in economics because she is interested in economics and business. Fanella plans on applying to graduate school for a master’s degree in economics and moving back to her hometown, Bloomingdale, Ill. after graduating from Mason.

Whether playing volleyball or having a good time off the court, Bohman and Fanella are part of a cheerful and accomplished group of ladies, and they really do mean business when it comes to for the women’s volleyball team.

By John Powell, Asst. Sports Editor

So I’m back in Norfolk, Va. this weekend. Oddly enough, this was the same location for the women’s tennis championships. I thought I saw more cars than usual around the tennis courts.

Unfortunately, the No. 8 George Mason University women’s tennis team was knocked out of the running for the championship in the first round after a 4-2 loss to No. 9 Drexel in the first round on Thursday. The team was probably expecting the same result as their last match against the Drexel Dragons. The teams played each other just over a week ago and Mason took the match by a final score of 5-1.

There were a few diamonds among the rough, though. The most significant in my mind is that sophomore Brooke Blackwell has extended her winning streak to 19 straight matches, a streak she hopes to continue to next season.

The second is that Mason tallied 21 wins in the season, with nine losses. Although this only gave them the eighth seed in the championship tournament, the 21 wins set the record for the most wins the team has ever had.

The final diamond is that two players were named all-conference. Former Broadside Player of the Week junior Lindsay Gray earned All-Colonial Athletic Association Third Team honors for her doubles play during the season.

In addition, Kiersten Pappas, the team’s freshman sensation and top singles player, won All-CAA honors for her play in singles and doubles during the season. Assuming their skills keep progressing, the record-breaking women’s tennis team will have not one, but two players to anchor the team next year.

Head Coach Steve Curtis referred to this year as a “springboard” for next season. I sure hope he’s right, and assume he is basing his assessment on the progress the team has made this season.

The tennis team lost to Drexel 5-0 on Thursday. Déjà Vu? Yes, but this time I’m referring to the men’s tennis team. In their championship series, the No. 9 Patriots (out of 10 teams instead of 12 in the women’s series) lost to the No. 8 Drexel Dragons.

Two matches were not even played to completion, because the Dragons had already won the points necessary to advance. Some matches were in favor of the Patriots when the day was called; however, there weren’t enough wins to keep the day going.

The team finished with a 10-15 overall record. No player has made all-conference honors. Maybe they can turn the poor turnout around next year like the women’s team. Only time will tell at this point.

From the women’s soccer team’s turnaround year to the women’s tennis team’s year, things seem to be looking better for the women’s sports at Mason. Not to forget, the women’s volleyball team went from one of the cellar teams to a CAA champion last year. I certainly hope the trend can continue.

By Evan Benton Staff Writer, Cody Norman Staff Writer, Brian T. Chan Sports Editor

Western Conference

No. 1 Los Angeles Lakers vs. No. 8 Oklahoma City Thunder
In the incredibly competitive West, young upstarts Oklahoma City are looking to bring the lightning to the defending champion Lakers and perennial overachiever Kobe Bryant. However, the Lakers look to defend their title with one of the top defenders in the league, Ron Artest. Los Angeles was rated in the top 10 this season, allowing just 96.3 points per game thanks to the suffocating defensive play from Artest.

The Thunder feature scoring title-winner Kevin Durant, who is the youngest to ever hold the vaunted award at 21, single-handedly giving birth to professional Oklahoma sports with a franchise-record 48 30-plus point games in the season. This looks to be a series with the possibility for upset around every corner — the perfect storm for young upstarts to unseat the champs.

No. 2 Dallas Mavericks vs. No. 7 San Antonio Spurs
San Antonio and Dallas lock longhorns for the second year in a row and the fifth time in the Tim Duncan – Dirk Nowitzki era. The Spurs went through an unusually slow season, but picked it up at the end, with the return of a healthy Tony Parker to complement future Hall-of-Famer Tim Duncan, Richard Jefferson and the baddest boy in the league, Manu Ginobili. Ginobili leads the team in 3-point shooting, assists and steals. The triple-threat athlete looks to penetrate a tough Dallas defense.

The Mavericks hope to continue their usual great season standing, supplemented by recently acquired Caron Butler and the unstoppable skills of 37-year-old Jason Kidd. Butler contributed 15.2 points per game in his 27 appearances since the trade. Brendan Haywood provides more depth to an already deep team, and with him, the team has an exceptional shot blocker. Haywood ranked fourth in the league with 2.1 blocks per game this year.

No. 3 Phoenix Suns vs. No. 6 Portland Trail Blazers
Scoring an average of 110 points a game, no team is hotter than Phoenix at the moment, having gone on a 23-6 firestorm since the All-Star break with Steve Nash and Grant Hill making shots and Amare Stoudemire announcing his return with a dunking display for the ages. Stoudemire continues to be a dominant force, leading the high-octane offense with 23.1 points and 8.9 rebounds per game.

Next on the warpath is Portland, a team looking to overcome the injury of its star player Brandon Roy. The Blazers have a highly energized young core with the 24-year-old forward LaMarcus Aldridge leading the pack. Aldridge averaged 17.9 points and eight rebounds per game. Behind him, Martell Webster, Nicolas Batum, Jerryd Bayless and Rudy Fernandez will hope to provide a spark for Rip City.

No. 4 Denver Nuggets vs. No.5 Utah Jazz
The Rockies are slated to get a whole lot hotter when Utah and Denver face off for the first time since 1994, when the Jazz won a hard-fought seven-game series. That team, however, did not have Carmelo Anthony, Chauncey Billups and massive Brazilian center Nenê. Anthony was third in the league with a scoring average of 28.2 points per game.

The Jazz boast standout point guard Deron Williams, but Andrei Kirilenko and Carlos Boozer are uncertain with their day-to-day injuries. Williams has already proven to be a potent passer and scorer, but the Jazz will need help to advance to the second round as this highly anticipated matchup has the making of a seesaw battle.

Eastern Conference
No. 1 Cleveland Cavaliers vs. No. 8 Chicago Bulls
After electing to rest their starters for the last week or more of the regular season, the Cavaliers are going to need a tune-up series before they get down to the nitty gritty. With the return of Shaquille O’Neal, the Cavaliers look to dominate the Eastern Conference side of the field. LeBron James, the second leading scorer in the NBA, hopes to win his first championship ring.

The Chicago Bulls have gone through the drama with a disastrous loss to the Sacramento Kings, in which the Bulls surrendered a 35-point lead in the third quarter, to a confrontation between Vice President John Paxson and Head Coach Vinny Del Negro. But, with the emergence of point guard Derrick Rose, the Bulls provide a challenge for the NBA’s top team.

No. 2 Orlando Magic vs. No. 7 Charlotte Bobcats
The Bobcats qualified for postseason for the first time in franchise history, and Charlotte has not had a postseason since the Hornets moved to New Orleans in 2002. Gerald Wallace and Stephen Jackson provide the modern day Charlotte basketball team with a scoring combination that rivals any team in the East, but their lack of playoff experience could play an integral role in their possible downfall this season.

The Magic improved their roster with the addition of the electric Vince Carter. While Carter averaged 16.6 points per game during the season, the Magic are still led by their big man in the paint. Dwight Howard shot 61.2 percent from the field while putting up 18.3 points per game. Howard led the league with 13.2 rebounds per game.

No. 3 Atlanta Hawks vs. No. 6 Milwaukee Bucks
The Hawks were once the laughingstocks in the NBA, but with their third consecutive playoff appearance, the Hawks are a stronger team since they valiantly pushed the Celtics to seven games two years ago. Atlanta is young like the Bobcats, but they have the playoff experience that forces them in as a possible contender this season. Joe Johnson led the team with 21.3 points per game, and Jamal Crawford added 18 points per game in his first year with the team since coming from the Golden State. The real threat is Josh Smith, who averages 15.7 points, 8.7 rebounds and 2.1 blocks per game.

A decade ago, the Bucks were on the rise with Ray Allen, Glenn Robinson, and Sam Cassell, but that era has ended a while ago. Now, the team is depending on its young squad with rookie Brandon Jennings and former top overall pick Andrew Bogut. The team has been subpar in its recent history, but with its youth, the team is once again on the rise. The addition of veteran John Salmons has been a key move by the team’s front office in fielding a competitive roster. Salmons averaged a team-high 19.9 points per game since he was acquired in the trade with the Bulls. Despite the improvement over the past year, the Bucks are the huge underdog in this matchup.

No. 4 Boston Celtics vs. No. 5 Miami Heat
The Celtics can no longer depend on the Big Three for its production on offense. The team has seen the emergence of Rajon Rondo and Kendrick Perkins this season. Rondo, who averaged 13.7 points per game, has gradually improved his shooting, posting a solid 50.8 field-goal percentage while continually playing exceptional defense. Perkins led the Celtics with 7.6 rebounds per game.

In a debate to whether a team should have an iconic player or a team-oriented lineup, the Heat depend solely on Dwyane Wade. Not to downplay the roles Michael Beasley and Jermaine O’Neal have played this season, but Wade, who averaged 26.6 points per game, is the player that will carry the Heat.