(Peter Mahler / Fourth Estate)
The Patriots win their first match at VCU since 2015 and will compete with Dayton for the A-10 lead this weekend
BY PETER MAHLER, STAFF WRITER
Mason Women’s Volleyball defeated in-state rivals Virginia Commonwealth University 3-1 in Richmond for the first time in over 10 years on Friday, Oct. 17. Coach Megan Shifflett Bachmann — who received a two-year contract extension on Oct. 16 — emphasized how proud she is of her players.
“It’s a testament to the work the team has put in,” she said.
Despite the history between Mason and VCU, Shifflett Bachmann championed her team’s professional attitude.
“They regard every opponent the same way. They want a challenge, they want to play well, and they want to beat everybody. It’s the same at home and away,” she said.
Junior libero Autumn Martinez-Robinson, who led the Patriots with two service aces, dedicated the win to Assistant Coach Peyton Ehmke, who played at Mason from 2018 to 2022.
“It was a really big full circle moment for her,” said Martinez-Robinson. “She was talking about how she’s never beaten VCU at VCU.”
The Patriots used that motivation to shock a team that had thwarted them year after year.
One of the key contributors to this victory was sophomore outside hitter Avery Booker, who contributed six crucial kills in the third and fourth sets that ultimately helped seal the win.
“I wanted to contribute in any way that I could,” said Booker. “… Because I had people like Autumn next to me that believed in me, and I believed in her. Having a support system like that is everything,” she said.
That supportive mindset was evident before the game, with the players displaying an infectiously positive attitude during the warmups, but also when faced with adversity.
The Patriots rallied from an early 5-10 deficit in the third set and won 25-20. In the fourth, they withstood a 12-4 Rams comeback to squeak by with a narrow score of 25-22.
“Our team has a ‘next ball mentality,’” said Martinez-Robinson. She recognizes the need to move forward after stretches of poor play.
Regarding adversity, Shifflett Bachmann echoes the mentality of her players. “We’re always really big proponents of being confident and aggressive, no matter what the score is. I always tell them, ‘I don’t care if you make errors, as long as the errors are aggressive ones,’” she said. “It gives them that feeling that they can get after it without fearing the consequences.”
Serving was a chess match. Both teams were aggressive, leading to 28 combined service errors. Mason’s five aces were a sign of the “ebb and flow” Shifflett Bachmann described after the match.
(Peter Mahler / Fourth Estate)
Booker places a heavy emphasis on the role of momentum during tough moments. “When you have momentum, it’s really easy to get on a high and stay on that high,” she said. “But if something happens … if you lose two consecutive points … It’s really important to have each other’s backs to regain that momentum.”
Timeouts are crucial for momentum, and Coach Shifflett Bachmann prides herself on using them appropriately and at the correct times.
“There’s a certain elegance that comes to whether you’re up or down when you call the timeout,” she said.
She emphasizes being able to “regain control” without giving her players “empty words” during moments of chaos.
Having already surpassed their win total of 11 from 2024, the Patriots have an opportunity to separate themselves from past Mason teams. Booker and Martinez-Robinson, two players who have been with Mason for over a year now, aren’t letting the moment slip away.
“I think Avery and I can both attest that this has been the best team chemistry we have felt so far,” said Martinez-Robinson. The support each teammate has for one another contributes to a “positive and very uplifting atmosphere” that Martinez-Robinson credits for the team’s high level of play.
At 14-6, and with a record of 7-2 versus A-10 opponents, the Patriots will travel to Dayton, Ohio, tomorrow to face the rival Flyers in two matches that could put them atop the conference standings.
Dayton, on a nine-game winning streak, currently leads the A-10 with a 9-0 conference record. With identical overall records heading into their two matches, the top spot in the conference remains up for grabs if Mason manages to win in both outings.
With the top conference spot in their sights, Mason can thank their aggressive play, supportive team culture, and “next ball attitude” for putting them in such a momentous position. Fans can watch the game on ESPN+ Friday, Oct. 24, at 7 p.m.