Photo credit: Diane Williams

FAIRFAX, Va. – Ric Lucas, former setter for George Mason University's men's volleyball team, will be inducted to the Eastern Intercollegiate Volleyball Association (EIVA) Hall of Fame during the 2017 EIVA Championship match in April.
 
In the conference's 45^th season, Lucas will be a part of EIVA's sixth Hall of Fame class along with former middle blocker Chris Chase (Penn State, '89) and middle blocker Chris Fazio (Juniata, '97).
 
"This year's EIVA Hall of Fame class celebrates the contributions of three outstanding players," said EIVA President Ron Shayka, who was on Mason's coaching staff for three of Lucas' playing years. "All three were not only some of the best in the East, but were among the best in the country."
 
The eldest of the 2017 inductees, Lucas graduated from Mason in 1985 and was a crucial component of the '84 and '85 squads that made it to the NCAA tournament. He led the team in hitting percentage (.362) and kills (306) as a junior to earn 1984 First Team All-American recognition. The following season Lucas continued writing his name with golden letters in Mason volleyball history by picking up 311 digs (3.06 per set), an achievement which still stands as best in the history of the men's volleyball program.
 
Lucas becomes the fourth Patriot to be inducted to the Hall of Fame after his head coach Wayne Stalick (class of 2013), iconic outside hitter Uvaldo Acosta (2012) and middle blocker Moyo Kasim (2016).
 
"Ric was the most intelligent setter I ever coached," Stalick said about his former player via EIVAVolleyball.com. "He had a knack for finding the open hitter and calling the best play for a situation."
 
"I always enjoyed talking and strategizing with him," added Stalick, who accumulated 407 wins (.669) on the way to three conference titles with the Patriots. "Down deep he always wanted to be an outside hitter, even at 5-foot-10, but with his 42-inch vertical jump he was able to hit over many blocks."
 
Lucas began the most significant Mason volleyball legacy up to date as both his sons – Eric ('11) and Dave ('14) – followed in his footsteps as Patriots, both as liberos.