LORETTO, Pa. - The George Mason men's volleyball team battled but came up on the short end as it fell to St. Francis, 3-2, on Friday evening at the DeGol Arena.
St. Francis won the match with set scores of 25-19, 22-25, 24-26, 25-22, 18-16.
Both teams battled in the first set, which featured seven
ties that cumulated in a 17-17 draw. The Red Flash took the lead for good
on an attack error by Mason junior outside hitter Mark Jones, and scored the
next point to take a 19-17 lead. The Patriots called a timeout and registered
the next point, but SFU outscored Mason 6-1 down the stretch as it won the set,
25-19.
The Patriots rallied, winning the next two sets, 25-22 and
26-24. SFU opened the second set with the first point, but Mason went on a 3-0
run to take a 3-1 lead. Using a 10-7 scoring run, the Patriots assumed their
largest lead of the match with a five-point differential, 13-8. The Red Flash
responded, going on an 8-1 scoring streak to grab a 16-14 edge. However, Mason
used another scoring run, this time 6-2, to take a 20-18 lead and cruise to the
25-22 win.
Overcoming a seven-point deficit late in the third set
(18-11), Mason closed the set with a 15-6 scoring advantage to win the set,
26-24. A kill by Jones started the rally, and was followed by two Red Flash
attack errors to leave the score at 18-14 in favor of the home team. An 8-1
run, featuring two kills from junior outside hitter Michael Kvidahl, a kill
each from freshman middle blocker Hunter Stevens and Jones, a service ace from freshman
Pete Cupperull and three SFU attack errors pushed the Patriots ahead, 22-20.
Not to be silenced, the Red Storm grabbed the lead back with four-consecutive
points (24-22), but the Patriots held strong and closed the set with four
unanswered of their own for the 26-24 set victory.
The fourth set proved to be another back-and-forth affair,
as both teams were unable to maintain a lead and found themselves tied late,
22-22. A kill by St. Francis's Alex Kane and two Mason attack errors sealed the
set, as the Red Flash won, 25-22, forcing a decisive fifth set.
In a closely contested fifth set, Mason had a chance to
close the match as it led, 14-13. SFU's Kyle Beaty put a stop to that, as he
registered a kill to tie the score at 14-14. The Red Flash also had a chance to
win leading 16-15, but Mason tied the match 16-16. However SFU had the last
edge, as it registered two consecutive points to secure the set, 18-16.
Jones led Mason with 20 kills and Kvidahl added 17 kills and
three service aces, while Cuppernull finished with 49 assists. Stevens had a
team-high five blocks (1BS, 4BA).
SFU's Alex Kane recorded a game-high 35 kills, while Ryan
Williams dished out a game-high 63 assists.
Mason returns to action tomorrow to face No. 5 Penn State at
5:00 pm.
