FAIRFAX, Va. - George Mason will host Harvard in the first round of the EIVA Championship Tournament on Wednesday at 7 p.m. at the Field House. The Patriots enter the conference tournament as the fifth seed, while the Crimson took the conference's eighth seed.

Mason wrapped up the regular season with a 12-15 overall record and 5-7 mark in EIVA Tait Division matches. Harvard finished second in the Hay Division at 11-7 overall and 6-2 in conference play. The winner of Wednesday's first round match will advance to the quarterfinals, and will take on fourth-seeded Springfield College on Saturday, April 25 at 7 p.m. in Springfield, Mass.

The Patriots are led by senior opposite hitter Kyle Gramit, a Second-Team AVCA All-American last season, who ranks in the top-10 in the nation in both aces per set and kills per set. Gramit is fifth in the country in aces per set with an average of 0.51 and ninth in kills per set with an average of 4.76.

Mason's defense has been tough on opponents all season long, finishing second in the nation behind UC Irvine in blocks per set with an average of 3.51. Senior Brandon McLaughlin finished the season tied for third in the country with an average of 1.45 blocks per set.

Harvard senior middle blocker Brady Weissbourd will attempt to break down Mason's defense. Weissbourd ranks seventh in the nation in kills per set (5.18) and fourth in aces per set (0.54).

Tickets to Wednesday's match cost $5 for adults and $2 for youth and senior citizens. All full-time enrolled students at George Mason University will be admitted free with a valid Mason student ID.

2009 EIVA CHAMPIONSHIP TOURNAMENT
EIVA First Round
Wednesday, April 22
No. 7 Rutgers-Newark at No. 6 Princeton, 7 p.m.
No. 8 Harvard at No. 5 George Mason, 7 p.m.

EIVA Quarterfinals
Saturday, April 25
Winner of 7 vs. 6 at No. 3 Saint Francis, 7 p.m.
Winner of 8 vs. 5 at No. 4 Springfield, 7 p.m.

EIVA Semifinals (Hosted at Penn State's Rec Hall)
Thursday, April 30
Winner of 7/6/3 vs. No. 2 Juniata, 4:30 p.m.
Winner of 8/5/4 at No. 1 Penn State, 7:30 p.m.

EIVA Championship (Hosted at Penn State's Rec Hall)
Saturday, May 2
Winner of 7/6/3/2 vs. Winner of 8/5/4/1, 7 p.m.

EIVA Championship Seeding
1. Penn State
2. Juniata
3. Saint Francis
4. Springfield
5. George Mason
6. Princeton
7. Rutgers-Newark
8. Harvard