Feb. 9, 2005

Box Score

The ability to respond to a challenge is the sign of a strong, veteran team. There's no doubt after Wednesday night that the George Mason men's volleyball team has plenty of strength and leadership. The Patriots stormed through the first game and held off intense Juniata charges in the second and fourth game as the 14th-ranked Patriots improved to 6-0 on the season by defeating Juniata, 30-24, 31-29, 25-30, 30-28.

Juniata was overmatched in the first game as the Patriots played nearly mistake-free. Mason compiled 20 kills on 30 attacks with just two errors in the opening game to easily dispatch of the Eagles. The second game was a different story with the two teams playing back-and-forth volleyball. Mason was ahead 26-21 before Juniata rallied to take the lead. Juniata had game point at 29-28, but Mason rallied for three straight points and a 2-0 lead.

The Eagles (3-5, 1-2) showed why they are ranked No. 1 in NCAA Division III as they responded in the third game, despite falling behind 8-4. Juniata rallied to take a 13-8 lead on Mason and held off a late Patriots push to grab the third game.

The final game saw both teams take the other's best shot. In the end, the Patriots were left standing as a Shaun Powell service ace ended the match.

Mason was paced by Powell, who had 20 kills and hit .341 in the victory. Powell added eight digs and three block assists. Felix Campos had 16 kills and hit .345, also adding three block assists to go with six digs. Kyle Swanson and R.J. Goubeaux each had six block assists and Goubeaux added one solo block. Hudson Bates had two solo blocks, five block assists, five digs and nine kills while Dave Egan finished with 46 assists. The Patriots are now 3-0 in Eastern Intercollegiate Volleyball Association action.

Matt Springer led Juniata with 20 kills and Ricky Ziegler had 47 assists. Cordt Withum had 12 kills and Jeremy Barndt and Ziegler each had nine digs. The difference in the match was hitting percentage and blocks. The Patriots outhit Juniata, .311-.205 and had 17.5 blocks to Juniata's five blocks.

Mason is in action again on Saturday when the Patriots host Ball State. The Cardinals were ranked as high as 14th this season but Mason knocked them out of the top 25 in the first meeting this season.