Jan. 26, 2007

Box Score

FAIRFAX, Va. - The fifteenth-ranked George Mason men's volleyball team (1-1, 0-1 EIVA Tait) fell to the St. Francis (Pa.) Red Flash (4-2, 1-0 EIVA Tait) in four games (27-30, 30-23, 29-31, 27-30) in the Eastern Intercollegiate Volleyball Association (EIVA) Tait Division opener for both teams on Friday evening at John Linn Memorial Gym.

The loss marks only the third time George Mason has lost to St. Francis (Pa.) in 25 meetings between the teams. However, after going 22-1 against the Red Flash in the team's first 23 meetings, the Patriots have lost the last two matches against St. Francis (Pa.), including last year's EIVA Championship Semifinal match at Penn State's Rec Hall.

After dropping the first game 30-27, the Patriots came back to easily win the next game 30-23 to even the match at one game apiece. Mason appeared on its way to an easy victory in the next game as well jumping out to a seven-point lead at 24-17. The Red Flash refused to go quietly, though, scoring the next five points to pull within two. After a timeout by George Mason, the teams alternated the next seven points before St. Francis (Pa.) scored three straight to pull into a tie at 28. Senior Marc Honore closed out the run with an emphatic kill for St. Francis (Pa.). Mason's Will Price answered with a kill of his own to give the Patriots' the one-point lead and game point. The lead was short-lived; however, as the Red Flash closed out the game with a 3-0 run to win 31-29 and take a 2-1 lead in the match.

Mason never quite regrouped from the comeback as the Patriots trailed the entire fourth game, falling behind by as many as eight points. Mason came all the way back to pull within a point late at 28-27 but the Patriots couldn't complete the comeback, as St. Francis (Pa.) scored the next two points to close out the game and the match.

Price, the reigning EIVA Tait Division Player of the Week, had his second consecutive stellar outing, recording a match-high 30 kills on 52 swings. He also had eight digs and a match-high five aces. Senior middle blocker Kyle Swanson chipped in 13 kills on 19 attempts and led all players with seven blocks. Redshirt freshman Ryan Kwiatkowski, who split time with redshirt junior Billy Freesmeier at setter during the match, led the Patriots with 41 assists. Senior libero Graham Sheppard had nine digs.

Freshman opposite hitter Jordan Varee led the Red Flash with 18 kills. Sophomore setter Shane Conley paced all players with 59 assists. Senior Marc Honore had 17 kills and led St. Francis (Pa.) with four blocks.

The Patriots will take the court again tomorrow at 2 p.m. against the Lees-McRae Bobcats, a team they easily defeated in three games in the season opener last season at John Linn Memorial Gym. Last year's match is the only time the two teams have ever faced each other. Tickets to the match will cost $5 for adults and $2 for youth and senior citizens.