MASON (5-9, 2-5 EIVA) vs McKendree (6-11, 2-4 MIVA)
WHEN: 7 p.m., Friday, March 3, 2017
WHERE: RAC Gym, Fairfax, Va.
LIVE STATS: SideArm Stats
SERIES RECORD: First meeting in history

MASON (5-9, 2-5 EIVA) vs Coker (9-3)
WHEN: 5 p.m., Saturday, March 4, 2017
WHERE: RAC Gym, Fairfax, Va.
LIVE STATS: SideArm Stats
LIVE VIDEO: Patriot Vision ($)
SERIES RECORD: Mason leads series 1-0 FAIRFAX, Va. – McKendree, one of the surprise packages of the 2016 season, will be in the RAC on Friday for historic first meeting against George Mason University's men's volleyball team. Less than 24 hours later, Mason will complete its six-match homestand against independent member Coker.

This weekend's matches against the Bearcats and the Cobras begin the final non-conference slate on the Patriots' regular-season schedule. A successful start to March would allow Mason to go into its spring break trip to California, where it will face three ranked opponents, with some momentum after the recent run of negative results.

SCOUTING THE OPPONENTS

McKendree pulled off one of the most remarkable upsets last season by sweeping then-No. 11 Ball State on the road in the opening round of the 2016 Midwestern Intercollegiate Volleyball Association (MIVA) Championship. The third-year program's season came to an end in the same way as the Patriots', with a 3-1 defeat in the hands of eventual national champion Ohio State.

The Bearcats have been streaky this season, equaling Mason's current losing streak of five matches twice. Nevertheless, McKendree comes to Fairfax off a win after handling Quincy at home in four sets on Feb. 19 for its second conference win of the season. Friday's contest will be second against EIVA opposition for 2017 after a 3-0 victory at Charleston (W.Va.) in late January.

???????Maalik Walker is McKendree's most sought attacking option and leads the Bearcats with 3.41 kills per set despite being seventh on the team in hitting percentage (.214). Nolan Rueter is the Bearcat next closest to the 3.0 kills per set while hitting slightly better at .228. Rueter, however, leads the team with 21 service aces. Walker has next most with 12 while McKendree has accumulated 77 aces so far this season, five more than its opponents.

Despite playing nine ranked opponents already this season, McKendree has held its own on the defensive end and has outdug its opponents 521-489. Zach Thompson (2.29 digs/set) has been carrying the most of the defensive load on his shoulders and already has 144 digs to his name, the only Bearcat in triple digits. Michael Polizzi (0.79 blocks/set) and Wyatt Patterson (0.63 blocks/set) are McKendree's best net protectors with 37 blocks apiece so far this season. The Bearcats have accumulated as many team blocks as the Patriots (113.0), but have played 11 sets more than Mason.

???????Coker comes into the weekend off a 3-0 loss at Barton, the Conference Carolinas preseason favorite. That was just third defeat in 2017 for the Cobras; the first one came at the hands of Penn State, the only Div. I team that Coker has played so far. Saturday's match will be first of five consecutive contests against EIVA opposition for the independent program, all of which will be played within 11 days. The last of those matches will be against NJIT on March 14, the Cobras' first action at home since Feb. 10.

The Cobras have been getting results on the road this season with the Bulldogs and the Nittany Lions the only teams preventing Coker from a perfect record in their eight matches away from home so far. Joao Victor Santos (3.85 kills/set) leads Coker with 131 kills despite sitting out one of the Cobras' 12 matches. Middle blocker Luca Berger is having quite a freshman campaign, hitting .439 and picking up 24 service aces on the offensive end, both team-high achievements. Santos has major contribution to Coker holding opponents to a .183 hitting average with 26 blocks, including team-best 11 solo stuffs. Libero Gary Baker is the Cobras' best ground defender with 2.02 digs per set.