April 17, 2010
Box Score
FAIRFAX, Va. -
George Mason took an early 1-0 lead but was unable to overcome No. 12 Penn State, falling in four sets to the Nittany Lions in front of 1,122 fans in an EIVA Tait Division men's volleyball match on Saturday evening at the RAC. Junior setter Brandon Joyner recorded a triple double in the match with 55 assists, 11 digs and 10 blocks.
The Patriots jumped out to an early 1-0 lead in the match with a 30-24 victory in the opening set. With the score tied at seven, Mason took control of the set, winning the next four points to take a lead it wouldn't relinquish. The Patriots hit .419 as a team in the opening set victory.
Penn State rebounded to take the second set 30-22, and the Nittany Lions took a 2-1 lead in the match with a 30-27 win in the third set. The fourth set was close throughout with 16 ties and four lead changes. Penn State appeared to have the set wrapped up when it took a 28-24 lead following a solo block by Edgardo Goas. However, the Patriots stormed back with four consecutive points to tie the score at 28.
The two sides traded points until the Nittany Lions took control of the set with the score tied at 34. Senior Max Lipsitz recorded his 13th kill of the night to give Penn State a 35-34 lead and the match ended on the ensuing point when Andrew Dentler's attempt sailed long for the Patriots.
In addition to Joyner, Lance Rogers also reached double figures in multiple categories for the Patriots. Rogers hit .429 with 11 kills and 13 total blocks. The senior class of Ryan Kwiatkowski, Luke Maloney and Ben Nichols was honored prior to the start of the match and each senior made an impact on the court. Kwiatkowski and Maloney tied for the team lead with 13 kills each. Nichols finished with eight kills and three solo blocks.
Senior Will Price led the Nittany Lions with 29 kills, 11 digs and three blocks. Max Lipsitz hit .500 with 13 kills, five digs and seven blocks.
George Mason finishes the regular season with a 7-18 overall record and 4-6 mark in EIVA Tait Division matches. Penn State wraps up its regular season with a 21-7 overall record and a perfect 10-0 record against conference opponents.
The Patriots will be the third seed in the upcoming EIVA Championship Tournament. Mason will host an EIVA Quarterfinal match against Rutgers-Newark on Saturday, April 24 at 7 p.m. at the RAC.
