Fairfax, Va. - It will be a clash between the 2016 MIVA and EIVA champions in one of the two play-in matches that will begin the 2016 NCAA men's volleyball tournament, where George Mason University's men's volleyball team will face a well-known opponent, No. 2 Ohio State, in its return to the biggest stage after 28 years.
Mason already faced the Buckeyes this season and the Patriots lost the 53rd meeting in series history in three sets in Columbus, Ohio. Both teams have come a long way since then – Ohio State triumphed with the MIVA title for the first time since 2011 last night when it defeated Lewis in the final for its 20th consecutive win, while the Patriots' success over Saint Francis (Pa.) on Saturday extended their win streak to nine and 13 in the last 14 matches.
The winner of the match against the Buckeyes, which will take place on Tuesday, May 3, at 8 p.m. at Penn State – where Mason claimed the EIVA title last night – will face UCLA in the semi-final. The other play-in match will square off Conference Carolinas champion Erskine and Long Beach State University, which earned one of the two at-large bids to the tournament. The winner of that match-up will face MPSF champion BYU in the other semi-final on May 5.
The match that will determine theh 2016 national champion will be at 8 p.m. on May 7.
“We are excited to see three teams [Ohio State, UCLA, BYU] that we played earlier in the season, when we were still growing as a program”, head coach Jay Hosack said. “It will be a great challenge against a very good Ohio State team and a great test to see how far we have come.”
Junior libero Johnny Gomez, who had a huge contribution to Mason's first EIVA title in 28 years with career-high 20 digs in the title match against the Red Flash, also expressed enthusiasm for another chance to face a Buckeye team that was ranked No. 1 in the AVCA Coaches Poll at one point this season.
“It is going to be a great match-up and a great rematch between their All-American-quality outside hitter [Nicolas Szerszen] and our balanced attack,” said Gomez, who leads the nation in digs per set and was an All-EIVA First Team selection. “I am just excited to continue our season, keep doing our thing, and dig some balls.”
