No. 15 MASON (5-5, 2-1 EIVA) at NJIT (5-6, 1-2 EIVA)
WHEN: 7 p.m., Friday, Feb. 17, 2017
WHERE: Estelle and Zoom Fleisher Athletic Center, Newark, N.J.
SERIES RECORD: Mason leads series 50-8
LIVE STATS: SideArmStats.com
LIVE VIDEO: ESPN 3

No. 15 MASON (5-5, 2-1 EIVA) at Princeton (4-6, 2-1 EIVA)
WHEN: 7 p.m., Saturday, Feb. 18, 2017
WHERE: Dillon Gymnasium, Princeton, N.J.
SERIES RECORD: Mason leads series 43-23
LIVE STATS: SideArmStats.com
LIVE VIDEO: Ivy League Digital Network FAIRFAX, Va. – George Mason University's men's volleyball team will seek to begin an EIVA win streak for the first this season as it travels to New Jersey for conference battles against NJIT and Princeton.

After sweeping Harvard on the road to end a four-match skid last Sunday, the Patriots head back north for back-to-back matches against a pair of historically well-known opponents. The team combined for a 4-0 record against the New Jersey duo in head coach Jay Hosack's first season. The victory at the Highlanders' Fleisher Athletic Center came especially difficult, because the Patriots wasted a two-set lead – like they did at the Crimson on Saturday – but managed to outlast NJIT in the decisive fifth set. Both 2016 wins against Princeton came in straight sets.

SCOUTING THE OPPONENTS

In midweek NJIT made the short trip to Princeton for both teams' third EIVA match of the season. Despite taking the first set, the Highlanders fell in four sets after failing to capitalize on seven set points in the second set. Nevertheless, NJIT remains one of the most dangerous teams to play on the road after having won four of its five home matches this season. The Highlanders' only defeat in Newark was in the hands of No. 14 Penn State last week. NJIT did not come down easily, however, and took the Nittany Lions to five on Feb. 10 and still had the energy to prevail over Saint Francis (Pa.) in another five-setter the following night.

Just like last year, Jabarry Goodridge is NJIT's most dangerous offensive weapon. Now a senior, the 2016 First Team All-EIVA selection averages 4.12 kills per set, which is best in the conference so far. With his team-high 18 service aces, Goodridge is also among EIVA's top five servers with 0.42 aces per set. Defensively, redshirt sophomore Shannon Heckman has contributed the most to NJIT's success this season, leading the Highlanders with 82 digs and 1.92 digs per set. Goodridge has contributed 45 digs, the next most by a Highlander. A pair of Lukes – freshman Allmond (0.79 blocks per set) and redshirt senior Robbe (0.72 blocks/set) – are NJIT's best blockers this season.

The victory over NJIT on Valentine's Day was second in the last three matches for Princeton and matched the Tigers' total for 2016 (4-18), which ranked among the poorest campaigns in program history for the Ivy League institution. Currently, the Tigers are 2-1 in conference play and sit among the top four EIVA teams, where they hadn't been since April 2015. Princeton has made the Dillon Gym a fortress once again and has won three of four home matches. Penn State is the only team to have come away with a win in Princeton this season.

Junior Kendall Ratter is enjoying a memorable junior season so far and already has 127 kills to his name despite playing in only nine of Princeton's 10 matches. As a result, Ratter is ranked third in EIVA for kills per set with 3.74. However, Ratter heads two of the other statistical categories with his .353 hitting percentage and 0.50 aces per set ratio. Mason's redshirt sophomore middle blocker Garrett Kollar also has a 0.50 ratio, but Ratter has picked up 17 aces as opposed to Kollar's eight. Ratter is among the top three diggers on his team with 40 defensive pick-ups, but the Tigers are led by sophomore libero Corry Short, who has 57 digs. Freshman George Huhmann (0.67 blocks/set) is the main threat to Mason attackers at the net. Overall, Princeton averages 1.72 blocks per set, compared to the Patriots' 2.21 blocks per set.