Feb. 10, 2007

Box Score

UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. - Despite a match-high 22 kills from redshirt freshman opposite hitter William Price, George Mason (3-2, 1-2 EIVA) lost an EIVA Tait Division match to the No. 7 Penn State Nittany Lions (6-2, 3-0 EIVA) in four games (29-31, 30-23, 18-30, 25-30) on Saturday night at Rec Hall in University Park, Pa.

After dropping a close first game, in which the Patriots outhit the Nittany Lions .316 to .263, by a final score of 31-29, Mason rebounded to win the second game, 30-23, to even the match at a game apiece. The Patriots outhit the Nittany Lions .290 to .135 in the second game.

The third and fourth games, both won by Penn State, were a different story; however, as the Nittany Lions hit .448 in the third game and .303 in the fourth game. George Mason hit -.080 in the third game and .167 in the fourth game.

Price and sophomore Kyle Gramit were the only Patriots to reach double figures in kills. Penn State had a balanced attack with four players with double-digit kill totals, led by Matt Anderson's 19. Penn State's Luke Murray led all players with 48 assists and teammate Ryan Walthall registered a match-high 16 digs. Redshirt junior setter Billy Freesmeier and senior libero Graham Sheppard led the Patriots in assists and digs, respectively, with 43 and 12.

George Mason finished with 17 team blocks, five more than Penn State. Freshman middle blocker Colton Naill had nine blocks in the match.

George Mason returns to action on Thursday, Feb. 15 when it plays Juniata in an EIVA Tait Division match at 4 p.m. in Huntingdon, Pa.