FAIRFAX, Va. - The George Mason volleyball team used a
strong offensive showing to open its EIVA season with a 3-1 win over Princeton
on Friday evening at The RAC.
The Patriots had three players record double-digit kills
while the team hit .283 for the match as it improved to 3-5 overall and 1-0 in
the EIVA. With the loss, Princeton dropped to 1-2 overall and 0-1 in the
conference.
The match also kicked off the "EIVA Rallies" initiative to bring awareness to cancer research in conjunction with the Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center. Both coaching staff members wore hats as a part of the program.
Mason never trailed in the first set and built an early lead
as it cruised to the 25-21 win. Tied at 4-4, the Patriots used a 3-0 advantage
to go up 7-4 and force a Princeton timeout. Extending its advantage to as many
as six points (16-10), Mason maintained at least a three-point advantage
through most of the set before the Tigers pulled to within a point at 22-21
late in the set. However, the Patriots closed the door with a three-point run
keyed by a Princeton service error and two kills from senior Mark Jones to earn
the win.
The opening point of the second set went to Princeton but
the Tigers never gained control of the set as both teams battled to a 6-6 draw.
A kill by senior Piotr Dabrowki gave Mason the lead for good at 7-6, but
Princeton wouldn't go away as it remained within a point up to 9-8. A big 9-3
Patriot run put away the set for good as Mason took its largest lead of the
match at 18-11 and cruised to the 25-19 triumph.
A sluggish start to the third set spoiled the Patriots'
chance at a set sweep, as the Tigers opened with a 4-2 advantage, including
three-consecutive points, to force a Mason timeout. Mason stayed close, playing
to a 7-7 draw before Princeton grabbed the lead on a Patriot service error. The
Tigers led by as many as five points and were able to quell any rallies the
Patriots attempted as they won the set, 25-21.
Mason again found its stride early in the fourth set, and
after both teams battled to a 4-4 draw with long point rallies, the Patriots
used a kill from junior Pat Sibley to take the lead. Sibley's kill was followed
by three more Mason points for an 8-4 lead, and the Patriots never looked back
as it ran away with the 25-15 set win.
Jones paced the Mason offense with a season-high 18 kills,
while senior Andrew Denter finished with 11 kills and Pat Sibley added 10.
Senior Javier Perez dished out a game-high 43 kills. Mason also finished with
five service aces in the match, including two from Dentler, two by Sibley and
one from Dave Lucas. Defensively, Max McFarland had a team-high 11 digs and
Dabrowski had a match-best five blocks.
Pat Schwagler led Princeton with 13 kills, and Davis Wadell
had a team-best 22 assists.
The Patriots return to action next weekend, hosting a pair
of EIVA matches at The RAC.
