NEWARK, N.J. - In a match that featured 26 tie scores in
three sets, the George Mason men's volleyball team was able to disband a pesky
NJIT squad, sweeping the Highlanders on Friday evening at the Fleisher Center.
Mason improved to 6-2 in the conference and 8-7 overall,
sweeping the regular season meeting between the two squads. NJIT dropped to
3-13 and 1-6 in the EIVA.
Owning a slim 8-7 advantage in the opening set, the Patriots
used a 4-0 run to jump out to a 12-7 advantage and force an NJIT timeout. Mason
held the Highlanders at bay and led by as many as five points (17-12) before
NJIT made it interesting with a 5-1 run to pull back to within a point, 18-17. Mason
extended its lead back to three points (23-20), but the Highlanders wouldn't go
down easy as they pulled back to within one at 24-23 before Mark Jones closed
the set with a kill to give the win to the Patriots.
A back-and-forth second set saw the score arrive at a 17-17
draw before Mason grabbed control and closed with an 8-5 scoring advantage to
take the set, 25-22. Pat Sibley broke the tie with a kill and assisted on a
block with Kvidahl to put the Patriots up, 19-17. Mason extended its advantage
to four points (24-20), but NJIT attempted to rally back, registering two
consecutive points to pull back to within two. However, a Highlander attack
error sealed the set win for the Patriots to give them a 2-0 advantage in the
match.
Neither team held more than a two-point advantage in the
third set, as it featured 13 ties and two lead changes. It was a 24-24 draw before
the Patriots received kills from Sibley and Jones to give Mason the 26-24 set win
and match sweep.
Three Patriots finished with double-digit kills, led by 13
from Jones, 11 by Kvidahl and 10 from Sibley. Javier Perez had a match-high 35
assists, Patrick Maloney registered 12 digs, and Sibley also added a team-best
four blocks.
Ryan Thomas had a match-best eight blocks and also led the
Highlanders with seven kills.
The Patriots return to action tomorrow, taking on
Rutgers-Newark at 2:00 p.m.
