April 26, 2007

Box Score

UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. - George Mason played the St. Francis (Pa.) Red Flash in the semifinal round of the EIVA Championship Tournament at Rec Hall in University Park, Pa. for the second consecutive season on Thursday evening. Unfortunately for the Patriots, the result was the same as last season, with Mason's season ending with a 3-1 defeat at the hands of the Red Flash. With the loss, George Mason closes out the season with a 12-10 overall record.

The Patriots hold a commanding 22-5 record in the all-time series against St. Francis (Pa.), who improved to 16-11 with the win. However, the Red Flash have had Mason's number recently, winning the last four matches, including two regular season meetings this year.

St. Francis (Pa.) jumped out to an early 1-0 lead, taking the first game by six points, 30-24. The Red Flash attack started the match strong, outhitting the Patriots .531 to .250 in game one as senior middle blocker Marc Honore, the Uvaldo Acosta Memorial EIVA Player of the Year, led the team with seven kills on nine swings. Freshman opposite hitter Jordan Varee chipped in six kills, while senior outside hitter Travis Fox tallied five for St. Francis (Pa.).

George Mason got off to a great start in the second game, with two consecutive service aces by redshirt junior outside hitter Mark Burik. However, the Patriots were unable to turn the excellent start into a win. After Burik's two aces, the teams went back and forth until the score was tied at 20, when the Red Flash went on a 10-2 run to take the second game by a final of 30-22 to take a commanding 2-0 lead in the match.

Like the second game, the third game was knotted up late, this time at 26 points apiece. Unlike the second game; however, Mason was able to pull out the win, scoring four of the game's final five points to cut its deficit to 2-1. Redshirt freshman opposite hitter William Price, the EIVA Newcomer of the Year, and redshirt freshman middle blocker Erik Lanham tallied consecutive kills to break the tie and open up a 28-26 lead. After a service error by sophomore outside hitter Kyle Gramit brought the Red Flash within a point, Lanham and Price combined on a block to give the Patriots match point. Varee's attack error gave Mason the 30-27 win.

Mason was unable to capitalize on the momentum of its game three win; however, falling in the fourth game by a final of 30-27. After falling behind 18-8, the Patriots mounted a comeback, trailing by only one point at 26-25. The Red Flash scored the next two points to open up a three point lead and with the score 29-27, an Honore kill closed out the match.

Honore had an outstanding match, hitting .742 with 25 kills, 33 points, three aces and eight blocks. Varee finished with 24 kills and seven digs for the Red Flash.

Two players reached double-digit kills for the Patriots as Price had 20 and Gramit finished with 17. Redshirt freshman setter Ryan Kwiatkowski led Mason with 34 assists. The loss closes out the careers of senior libero Graham Sheppard, who finished with 12 digs, senior middle blocker Kyle Swanson, who had four kills and three blocks, and redshirt junior setter Billy Freesmeier, who tallied 13 assists.

St. Francis (Pa.) will take on the winner of the night's other semifinal match between No. 1 Penn State and No. 4 Princeton in the finals, slated for 7:30 p.m. on Saturday. The match will be televised live on CSTV.