The Mason men's volleyball team opens its 2014 season with three straight road games. The Patriots will open at Ohio State on Saturday, January 18 and travel to Arizona the following weekend for a pair of games against Grand Canyon. The Patriots home opener is on Thursday, January 30 against the University of Puerto Rico-Rio Piedra.
MEN'S VOLLEYBALL at OHIO STATE (0-3)
When: Saturday, January 18, 7 p.m.
Where: St. Johns Arena, Columbus, Ohio
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Notes: Head coach Fred Chao returns for his 16th season at the helm, and has the task of replacing six student-athletes that earned All-EIVA honors last season, highlighted by Mark Jones, who was named Uvaldo Acosta Memorial EIVA Co-Player of the Year. The Patriots were chosen to finish fourth in the EIVA this year.
Mason finished the 2013 campaign with an overall record of 15-12, 11-3 in the EIVA. The Patriots graduated a total of eight seniors from the 2013 roster. Returning experienced players include seniors Dave Lucas and Jonathan Lutz. Lucas played in all 27 matches for the Patriots last year primarily as a service option, while Lutz played in nine and totaled 28 kills as an opposite hitter.
The Patriots have a slight lead over the Buckeyes with a 25-24 series record. Ohio State has won the last eight matches with George Mason's last win coming in 2009.
OHIO STATE
Ohio State enters the weekend as the 15th-ranked team in the AVCA Division I-II Coaches Top 15 preseason poll. The team is one of four MIVA schools ranked as Loyola ranks No. 2, Lewis is No. 9 and IPFW stands at No. 14. The Scarlet and Gray are led by a quartet of juniors in Michael Henchy, Andrew Lutz, Peter Heinen and Shawn Herron. Henchy and Heinen have been consistent contributors since their freshmen campaigns, while Lutz secured a starting role last season. Herron gained valuable experience his redshirt freshman year and is a big blocker for the Buckeyes. Adding depth and experience are the team's three seniors in Danny Baker, Michael Piechowski and Jonathan Newton.
ST. JOHN ARENA
Historic St. John Arena has been home to the Ohio State men's volleyball team since the program started in 1968. The Buckeyes have amassed a record of 483-95 in 46 years and have totaled six undefeated seasons at home.
