April 10, 2010

Box Score

FAIRFAX, Va. - George Mason took the annual UV Memorial Match in four sets (30-26, 28-30, 30-27 and 30-26) over Juniata College on Saturday afternoon at the RAC. The crucial win evened the Patriots' record at 4-4 in the EIVA Tait Division.

Saturday's victory gave the Patriots back-to-back wins for the first time since the month of February. The win also vaulted the Patriots into sole possession of second place in the EIVA Tait Division standings heading into tomorrow's critical 3 p.m. matchup against third-place Princeton at the RAC. The Tigers are a game behind the Patriots in the loss column with a 4-5 record against EIVA Tait Division opponents.

Two players recorded double-doubles for Mason in the win over Juniata. Freshman Michael Kvidahl finished with a team-high 16 kills and 14 digs. Junior Eric Lucas tallied 12 kills and 15 digs for the Patriots. George Mason had five players with at least 10 kills in the win. Both middle blockers fared well as Lance Rogers hit .682 and Shaun Sibley hit .500.

Evan Halteman finished with a match-high 17 kills while hitting .696 for the Eagles. Zach Wanner recorded a double-double with 11 kills and 10 digs.

Before the start of the match, George Mason honored the memory of one of the greatest players in the history of the program, Uvaldo Acosta. Acosta, whose retired number eight jersey hangs permanently in the RAC Gym, made his mark on George Mason University as both a collegiate athlete and a coach. Acosta passed away at the age of 32 in a tragic swimming accident on a team trip to Hawaii during the 1998 season while serving as the head coach of the George Mason men's volleyball team.