FAIRFAX, Va. – George Mason University's men's volleyball team made another step in the right direction to live up to its postseason ambitions by defeating a strong NJIT team 3-0 in the RAC Friday.

It was not as easy as it seems, however. Captain Jack Wilson did not start his Senior Weekend in the most desirable way as his third service error of the first set gave NJIT a triple set point at 24-21.

Nevertheless, Wilson responded with a kill right away and started a momentum-turning 4-0 run and a 7-2 run that allowed the Patriots (13-11, 6-5 EIVA) to take the set 28-26. The opposite hitter was at the heart Mason's fifth-straight victory with match-high 10 kills, team-high two aces, and four digs. The result had a major impact on the EIVA standings with three matches to go – defending champion Mason moved up to fourth spot while NJIT (6-6, 13-10 EIVA) dropped down to seventh.

Roles flipped in the second set, which also went to extra points, when Jabarry Goodridge's fifth ace in the match tying the score at 24-24, eliminating Mason's double set point. The Patriots did not crumble, though, and won the following two points, to double their lead in the match with a Wilson kill for 26-24.

The defense played a key role in the third set, limiting the Highlanders' scoring leader Goodridge (10 kills, 5 digs), who also leads the nation in kills per set, to two kills and .000 hitting. Mason's senior libero Johnny Gomez had another solid night with match-high 12 digs, highlighted by an incredible foot dig that set up one of sophomore outside hitter Kyle Barnes' eight kills (.667 hitting).

Another senior, middle blocker Graham Gresham, led the Patriots' defensive efforts at the net with match-high five blocks. His big night extended on the offensive front as well, where he was was flawless and had nine kills on .750 hitting, best among all players with more than nine attack attempts in the match.

It was precisely Gresham who put the cherry on the cake with a kill for 25-17 in the third set. The outcome of the set was largely decided by another 7-2 Mason run – this time much earlier – that put the Patriots in the lead for the first and final time at 8-4. Head coach Jay Hosack's team had more blocks in the third set than NJIT had in the entire match – 3.5 – including a solo effort by junior setter Brian Negron, who had 36 assists in the win.

NEXT ON THE COURT

Mason has another important test this weekend, against Princeton on Saturday. The match, which will also be a RAC farewell for Wilson, Gresham, Gomez and outside hitter Radoslav Popov, begins at 7 p.m.