FAIRFAX, Va. - The 2018 George Mason men's volleyball team placed third in the preseason EIVA poll. The Patriots check in behind defending EIVA champion Penn State and Princeton, receiving 45 points.

Penn State received all eight first place votes giving them 64 points overall, while Princeton captured 54 points.

Mason comes off an injury-plagued 2017 campaign and is returning 13 letterwinners and three starters plus the libero. The returning starters the Patriots boast include former AVCA All-American honorable mention Johnny Gomez, 2015 First-Team All-EIVA selection Brian Negron and 2016 Second-Team All-EIVA selection Christian Malias. Malias, a redshirt senior, missed the entire 2017 season due to injury, but obtained a medical redshirt and is eligible to play in 2018.

The Patriots begin the 2018 regular season at home Jan. 5 against Limestone College. Their first EIVA match will also be at the RAC against NJIT on Feb. 16.

Click to read official EIVA Release