MEN'S VOLLEYBALL (17-11) VS Saint Francis (Pa.) (19-9) @ 2016 EIVA Championship

WHEN: 7 p.m., Saturday, April 23, 2016

WHERE: Rec Hall, State College, Pa.

SERIES RECORD: Mason leads series 31-11

LIVE STATS: GameTracker

LIVE VIDEO: GoPSUSports.com

State College, Pa. – George Mason University's men's volleyball team will have another opportunity to win its first Eastern Intercollegiate Volleyball Association title since 1988 on Saturday, when it faces Saint Francis (Pa.) in the championship match at Rec Hall in State College, Pa.

Mason earned its right to play for the trophy after a dominant display against Harvard in Thursday's first semi-final, when balanced attack and aggressive serving helped the Patriots to a sweep over the Crimson. Captains Christian Malias and Paco Velez led Mason with 11 kills apiece on a night in which the team combined for a .423 hitting performance. Velez had five of Mason's eight aces in the contest, as opposed to two for Harvard, and the Patriots outblocked their opponent 8-3.

SCOUTING THE OPPONENT

Saint Francis had the tougher job in the night cap on Thursday, when they faced the tournament's top seed and host Penn State. The Red Flash made a statement out of the match and won in four despite losing the first set to the Nittany Lions. The win was identical to the regular season victory in State College, which was Saint Francis' first against Penn State in program history, but Thursday's win was historic in nature as it broke the Nittany Lions' streak of 17 consecutive conference championships.

Jeff Hogan (22) and Mike Marshman (11) combined for 33 of the Red Flash's 57 kills on the night and 8 of the 19 block assists that led to Saint Francis outblocking Penn State 10-8. Setter Daniel Ford dished out 47 assists.

This will be the Patriots' third meeting against Saint Francis. Last Friday Mason defeated the Red Flash in three-set – yet competitive - encounter to avenge a similar defeat in Loretto, Pa. earlier in the season and to clinch its postseason spot.