Feb. 13, 2003

FAIRFAX, VA ... The George Mason University men's volleyball team has four players ranked in three categories in the first NCAA Division I-II statistics of the season.

Senior James Claney (Northbrook, IL/Glenbrook North), the Eastern Intercollegiate Volleyball Association (EIVA) Division I Player of the Week one week ago, ranks sixth in blocking average with 1.55 blocks per game, while freshman Matt Steinfurth (Portsmouth, VA/Woodrow Wilson) is 15th in the nation with 1.22 blocks per game.

Junior Brad Kniewel (Ringwood, NJ/Lakeland Regional) cracked the top 10 in dig average, ranking sixth with 2.55 digs per game. Just two weeks ago, Kniewel set the George Mason rally-scoring era record and ranks fourth all-time with 23 digs in a 3-2 win over EIVA-opponent New York University.

Sophomore Shaun Powell (Toronto, Canada/Francis Libermann), who has powered the Patriot offense for much of the season, ranks 19th in points average - a new category in 2003 that combines total kills, aces and blocks. Powell averages 4.86 points per game, with a team-high 139 kills (3.86 kpg), five aces (0.14 apg) and 31 blocks (0.86 bpg).

The George Mason men's volleyball team (5-5, 4-0 EIVA Tait) returns to action at the Hall of Fame Classic at Springfield College in Springfield, MA, from Friday, February 14, through Saturday, February 15. Participating teams are George Mason, Springfield, Rutgers-Newark and No. 5 Lewis. The Patriots take on Springfield on Friday at 8 p.m. The tournament consolation and championship matches follow on Saturday at 6 and 8 p.m., respectively.

GMU in EIVA Conference Statistical Rankings
Hitting Percentage: Steinfurth, 17 (.345)
Blocking Average: Claney, 1 (1.55); Steinfurth, 10 (1.22); Dave Egan, 16 (1.11)
Kills Per Game: Powell, 16 (3.86)
Aces Per Game: N/R
Digs Per Game: Kniewel, 6 (2.55)
Assists Per Game: Egan, 6 (11.79)
Team Hitting Percentage: N/R
Team Kills Per Game: 7 (14.29)
Team Blocks Per Game: 2 (3.24)
Team Aces Per Game: N/R
Team Digs Per Game: 9 (8.87)