PRINCETON, New Jersey – The George Mason men's volleyball team drops a close match to the Princeton Tigers.  This was the regular season finale for both teams.  With the loss, the Patriots will receive the fourth seed in the EIVA tournament and will take on host, Penn State.  The Patriots are now 14-13 on the season, while Princeton improves to 15-9.

The Patriots got off to a great start, going up 9-6 early on in the first set thanks in part to consecutive kills from reigning offensive player of the week Paco Velez and reigning defensive player of the week, Radoslav Popov.  The Green and Gold increased its lead to 19-12 to take control of the first set.  The Patriots went on to win the first set 25-18 after a kill from Hunter Stevens.

The second set was the complete opposite of the first one.  Princeton was the team to jump out to an early lead.  Despite a seven-point lead, the Patriots were able to mount a comeback.  The Patriots eventually tied the match at 21 after a kill from Velez.  However, the Tigers would go on to take the second set 25-23.

The third set was a close one.  It included six tie scores and three lead changes.  Once the Tigers took a 10-9 lead, they didn't give it back.  Princeton went on to when the set 25-20.  The fourth set was fought to the very end.  The final set included nine ties and two lead changes.  The Patriots led 11-9 after a Popov kill that was assisted by senior Joe Heim.  However, Princeton came back and had match point at 24-22.  A Cody Kessel kill won the match for the Tigers.

The loss for the Patriots makes it so they will have the fourth seed and Princeton will have the third.  Despite splitting the season series 1-1, the Tigers sit one game above the Patriots in the EIVA standings.  Mason will now take on Penn State in the EIVA semifinals on Thursday, April 24.  Princeton will face Harvard.

Paco Velez led the Patriots with a match-high 17 kills to go along with his 21.5 points in the match. Radoslav Popov was the only other Patriot in double digit kills, finishing with 11.  Senior Joe Heim dished out a team-high 40 assists.  Meanwhile, Velez also helped out on defense, leading the Green and Gold with 12 digs.

The Tigers were lead by Cody Kessel, who had a team-best 15 kills.  Chris Kennedy also dished out a match-best 50 assists.  Meanwhile Tony Ensbury led Princeton with 14 total digs on defense each.