March 23, 2003

Box Score

FAIRFAX, VA ... March 23, 2003 ... Senior James Claney (Northbrook, IL/Glenbrook North) posted a match-high eight blocks to lead the George Mason University men's volleyball team over Concordia, 3-0 (30-28, 30-23, 30-22), in the John Linn Memorial Gym on Sunday afternoon.

The Patriots win their second straight to improve to 12-8 overall and 10-2 in the Eastern Intercollegiate Volleyball Association Tait Division, while the Clippers fall to 7-13 overall and 4-5 in the conference.

George Mason dominated defensively, outblocking Concordia 16.5 to 4.0, with each Patriot posting at least two blocks - including a career-high two solo blocks by sophomore Shaun Powell (Toronto, Canada/Francis Libermann). Offensively the Patriots outhit their opponents a season-best .439 to .273. Three Patriots hit over .600, including junior Dustin Crosby (Virginia Beach, VA/Kempsville) with six kills on .625 hitting.

In game one George Mason jumped out to an early 8-3 lead on consecutive blocks. Concordia chipped away at the Patriot lead and came within two at 18-16 on a George Mason blocking error. A five-point run gave the Clippers their first lead of the game, 22-20, on a kill by sophomore Jesus Perez (San Juan, Puerto Rico). But the Patriots responded with a four-point run to retake the lead 24-22 on a block assist by Crosby and freshman Matt Steinfurth (Portsmouth, VA/Woodrow Wilson). Concordia scored the next two points to tie the game at 24-24, but consecutive Clipper errors put the Patriots up for good. George Mason won game one, 30-28, on a Concordia service error.

The Patriots used a three-point run, capped by a Claney ace, to build an early 8-6 lead in game two. They increased their lead to 17-11, after scoring five consecutive points. George Mason led by as many as 10 points, up 26-16, but the Clippers put together a five point run, including two aces by junior Rafael Diaz (San Juan, Puerto Rico) to close their deficit to five at 27-22. But the Patriots were too strong, oublocking Concordia 6.0 to 1.0 in the game and outhitting them .417 to .241. George Mason won game two, 30-22, on a kill by senior Art Kulans (Crystal Lake, IL/Crystal Lake South).

The Patriots scored the first point of game three on a Steinfurth kill and never trailed. They led by as many as eight points, and won the decisive game 30-23 on a Concordia service error. Powell led the Patriots with a team-high nine kills, five blocks, two aces and two digs. Steinfurth added seven kills, on .600 hitting, with five blocks and an ace, while Kulans added eight kills and two blocks. Sophomore Dave Egan (Toronto, Canada/Senator O'Connor) finished with 30 assists, two kills and two blocks, while Crosby added a career-high six blocks.

Perez led the Clippers with a match-high 16 kills, on .565 hitting, with seven assists, three digs and a block.

The George Mason men's volleyball team will host two matches this weekend. They face conference-opponent Rutgers-Newark on Friday, March 28, at 7 p.m. and then take on No. 14 Ohio State on Saturday, March 29, at 7 p.m.