Jan. 8, 2003

FAIRFAX, VA ... The George Mason University men's volleyball team will open their 2003 season with six consecutive matches on the road, beginning at Ball State on Sat., Jan. 11 at 7 p.m. The Patriots will visit Quincy College, Ohio State, Lewis, Laval (Canada) and Indiana-Purdue at Fort Wayne next week before returning to Fairfax for their home opener on Jan. 30 versus Loyola.

Fifth-year head coach Fred Chao returns four starters from the Patriot squad that posted a 17-9 overall record and placed third in the Eastern Intercollegiate Volleyball Association (EIVA) Tait Division last season. Seniors James Claney (Northbrook, IL/Glenbrook North), a first-team All-EIVA pick last season, and Art Kulans (Crystal Lake, IL/Crystal Lake South) return to lead Mason. Kulans was a second-team All-EIVA selection and a national second-team Academic All-American last year.

The Patriots garnered six votes to finish two places out of the final USA Today/AVCA Division I-II Coaches Top 15 Poll in 2002. They closed their season with a 3-0 loss to Rutgers-Newark in the semifinals of the EIVA Tournament.