Jan. 30, 2003

Box Score

FAIRFAX, VA ... The George Mason University men's volleyball team dropped their fourth consecutive match as they fell to No. 15 Loyola (IL), 3-0 (30-26, 30-19, 30-27), in the Patriots' home opener in the John Linn Memorial Gym on Thursday evening.

The Patriots fell to 1-5 overall, with all five losses to ranked opponents, while the Ramblers improved to 3-1.

George Mason posted their worst defensive performance of the season. Prior to tonight the Patriots averaged just under 13 team blocks per match, but managed just four team blocks versus the Ramblers. Loyola posted 11 team blocks, led by 6-9 junior Shawn Schroeder (St. Louis, MO/University) with a match-high six blocks -- including three solo. Senior James Claney (Northbrook, IL/Glenbrook North) posted a team-high two blocks for the Patriots.

Loyola also dominated offensively, with a team hitting percentage of .407. George Mason managed to hit just .223, including a .000 hitting percentage in game two, contributing to their 30-19 loss.

The Patriots had two players post double-figure kills, led by sophomore Shaun Powell (Toronto, Canada/Francis Libermann) with a match-high 15, adding three digs and a block. Senior Art Kulans (Crystal Lake, IL/Crystal Lake South) finished with 10 kills, on .438 hitting, with six digs and a block. Freshman Matt Steinfurth (Portsmouth, VA/Woodrow Wilson) added nine kills, on .500 hitting, with one block. Claney recorded a match-high three aces in the loss.

Senior Dan Kellum (Tipton, MI/Columbia Central) posted a team-high 14 kills, hitting a match-high .722, for Loyola with five digs and two blocks. Senior Shane Davis added a match-high 39 assists, five digs and five blocks.

The Patriots open their Eastern Intercollegiate Volleyball Association (EIVA) Tait Division schedule on the road this weekend at New York University on Saturday, February 1, at 8 p.m. and at Concordia on Sunday, February 2, at 2 p.m.