April 11, 2010

Box Score

FAIRFAX, Va. - After winning consecutive matches for the first time since February, George Mason was unable to extend its winning streak to three, losing an EIVA Tait Division men's volleyball match to Princeton in straight sets on Sunday afternoon at the RAC. With the win, the Tigers clinched second place in the conference standings with a 5-5 record in conference matches.

The Patriots entered the day in second place with a 4-4 record against EIVA Tait Division opponents but dropped to third following the loss. Even if Mason wins its final EIVA Tait Division match of the regular season next Saturday, the Patriots will finish in a tie with Princeton and will finish in third place in the division due to a pair of regular-season losses to the Tigers.

George Mason started slowly on Sunday afternoon, losing the first set by nine points, 30-21. Princeton won the first three points of the set and the Patriots were unable to overcome the early deficit.

The second set was much more competitive than the first, featuring 14 ties and five lead changes. The set was close throughout, and Mason had a chance to even the match at one set apiece when it took a 29-28 lead on a double block by Luke Maloney and Ben Nichols of a Carl Hamming attempt. However, Hamming bounced back on the next point, recording a kill to tie the score at 29.

Princeton took the next point on a kill by Jeff McCown, but the Patriots' Michael Kvidahl answered with a kill of his own to tie the score at 30. McCown put the Tigers up 31-30 with another kill and Princeton won the set when Kvidahl's attempt sailed wide to give the Tigers a 2-0 lead in the match.

Princeton never trailed in the third set, winning 30-22 to put an end to the match and improve its record to 11-9 overall and 5-5 in the EIVA Tait Division.

Kvidahl led Mason's attack with 14 kills on 31 swings. Lance Rogers recorded six blocks for a Patriots' team that finished with 12 as a unit.

Hamming led the way with 22 kills for the Tigers. He hit .559 in the match with eight digs. Setter Scott Liljestrom dished out 43 assists.

George Mason will close its regular season schedule on Saturday, April 17 at 7 p.m. against No. 9 Penn State at the RAC. The Patriots will honor their senior class prior to the start of the match.