Many members of the George Mason men's volleyball team, both returning and new to campus, have been in the news over the summer. Rising junior setter Javier Perez (Guaynabo, Puerto Rico) represented his homeland this summer at the FIVB World League, one of 25 Puerto Rican players to take part in the 16-team field. He is participating in the Junior World Championships as well, and you can watch video of Puerto Rico's match against Argentina by clicking this link.

Opposite hitter Francisco "Paco" Velez, who will join the Patriots this season, also played under the Puerto Rican flag this summer. Velez was a member of the Puerto Rican Youth National Team, and led the squad to the silver medal of the Boys' U19 Pan American Cup. He will continue his international competition this summer as a member of Puerto Rico's team at the FIVB Boys' Youth World Championship in Argentina later this month.

Two more newcomers, Mitch Beal and Hunter Stevens, were recognized by Volleyball Magazine on its Boys Fab 50 list. Narrowed down and voted on by a list of distinguished college and club coaches from around the country, the Fab 50 is a list of the top boys prep players at the end of the 2011 season. Beal, a 6'5" outside hitter from Colorado Springs, Colo./Cheyenne Mountain, will join Stevens, a 6'7" middle blocker from Newtown, Pa./Council Rock North, in the Green and Gold for the 2012 season.

Stevens was recently profiled by the Bucks County Courier Times on his introduction to the sport of volleyball and his prep successes. The article can be read by following this link.