Feb. 22, 2003
Box Score
PRINCETON, NJ ... Sophomore Shaun Powell (Toronto, Canada/Francis Libermann) recorded a season- and match-high 22 kills, hitting at .500, to lead the George Mason University men's volleyball team to their sixth-straight conference win, defeating Princeton, 3-1 (27-30, 32-30, 30-27, 30-25), in the Tigers' home opener at Dillon Gym.
The Patriots improve to 8-6 overall and 6-0 in the Eastern Intercollegiate Volleyball Association's Tait Division to remain in first place in the conference. George Mason has won seven of their last eight matches. The Tigers fall to 6-5 overall and 2-2 in the EIVA.
George Mason outhit Princeton .341 to .246 for the match. After hitting a paltry .143 in their game one loss, the Patriots improved in game two to hit at .607. George Mason also dominated defensively, outblocking the Tigers 12 to five. Senior James Claney (Northbrook, IL/Glenbrook North), who leads the league and is fourth in the nation in blocking average, led the Patriot defense with a match-high eight blocks. Sophomore Dave Egan (Toronto, Canada/Senator O'Connor) added seven blocks, including a career-high two solo blocks.
In addition to Powell, two other Patriots added double-figure kills in the win. Sophomore Felix Campos (Puerto Nuevo, Puerto Rico/Colegio San Antonio) recorded 15 kills, hitting .379, with two digs and an ace. Senior Art Kulans (Crystal Lake, IL/Crystal Lake South) finished with 12 kills, his fifth consecutive match with 10-or-more kills, and added two blocks and a dig.
Claney added nine kills, hitting at .500, while Powell and freshman Matt Steinfurth (Portsmouth, VA/Woodrow Wilson) added two service aces apiece. Egan had a team-high 55 assists and junior Brad Kniewel (Ringwood, NJ/Lakeland Regional) posted a team-high eight digs.
George Mason's men's volleyball team returns to action at home in the John Linn Memorial Gym with two conference matches this weekend. They will take on New York University on Friday, February 28, at 7:30 p.m., and then face Juniata on Saturday, March 1, at 7 p.m.
