March 10, 2007
Box Score
LORETTO, Pa. -
George Mason came into DeGol Arena in Loretto, Pa. on Saturday night with the intentions of getting redemption for an early season loss, but the Patriots ran into a total team effort by the Saint Francis (Pa.) men's volleyball team, which won a pivotal EIVA Tait Division match 3-1 (30-22, 23-30, 30-24, 30-19).
George Mason falls to an even 6-6 overall and 4-3 in conference matches after the loss. The Red Flash improve to 10-6 overall and 4-2 in the EIVA Tait Division with the win.
Saint Francis (Pa.) won the first game 30-22. But the Patriots turned a 10-10 deadlock in game two into a 16-10 lead with six straight points. Saint Francis (Pa.) pulled to within 23-21 on a kill by senior Marc Honore. But Mason won four straight serves to put the game out of reach at 27-21. Kyle Swanson clinched it at 30-23 with a kill to even the match at a game apiece.
The Patriots carried the momentum into the third game and had the Red Flash on their heels with a 13-8 lead. A kill by Pete Fryer and three straight attack errors pulled Saint Francis (Pa.) within a point at 13-12. Mason won two of the next three serves to take a 15-13 lead, but the Red Flash made a run from which the Patriots would never recover. SFU took a 16-15 lead and, after a 17-17 tie, would build that lead to 27-22 on another kill by Honore. Fryer gave the Red Flash a two games to one advantage with a kill on game point to end it at 30-24.
Mason held a brief 3-2 lead in Game 4, but the Red Flash took control and held the lead the rest of the way. Jordan Varee gave the Red Flash a 13-8 lead with a kill, forcing the Patriots into a timeout. Mason closed to within a point at 18-17, but Saint Francis (Pa.) responded with a 7-0 run to make it 25-17. Honore clinched the match with a kill to end it at 30-19.
William Price led the Patriots attack with 21 kills while setter Ryan Kwiatkowski tallied 33 assists. Marc Honore had 21 kills to pace the St. Francis (Pa.) attack. He was joined by three other teammates with double-digit kill totals.
George Mason's next match is scheduled for Friday, March 23 at 7:30 p.m. against Ball State in Muncie, Ind.
