Dec. 21, 2007

LEXINGTON, Ky. - The George Mason men's volleyball team begins the season ranked 12th in the nation in the initial CSTV/AVCA Division I-II Men's Volleyball Top-15 Coaches Poll, released on Dec. 20. Mason returns four starters from last year's team that finished the season 12-10 overall and advanced to the semifinals of the Eastern Intercollegiate Volleyball Association (EIVA) Championships.

In addition to returning four starters from last year's team that closed out the season with three wins in its final four matches, George Mason will get a boost from the return of two key players from injury. Middle blocker R.J. Goubeaux and outside hitter Hudson Bates, who both missed practically all of last season, will return to the court this year.

Mason was recently picked to finish second to perennial powerhouse Penn State in the EIVA Tait Division by a poll of the conference's head coaches. The Patriots and the Nittany Lions are the only two teams from the EIVA ranked in the CSTV/AVCA Top-15 poll to begin the season. Penn State is ranked fourth in the preseason poll.

The 2008 men's volleyball season begins on Jan. 15 at the Fieldhouse when the Patriots take on the University of Puerto Rico-Mayaguez in a 7:30 p.m. match.