WHEN: February 15, 2018 and February 16, 2018
WHERE: Wellness and Events Center (Newark, N.J.) and Dillon Gymnasium (Princeton, N.J.)
OPPONENTS: NJIT – Friday at 6 p.m.; Princeton – Saturday at 7 p.m.
LIVE STATS: NJIT | Princeton
LIVE STREAM (ESPN+): NJIT | Princeton
 
FAIRFAX, Va. – No. 13 George Mason men's volleyball jumps back into conference play with a pair of road matches against NJIT and Princeton this weekend. The Patriots take on NJIT at 6 p.m. on Friday at the Wellness and Events Center in Newark, N.J. The following night, Mason battles EIVA preseason favorite Princeton at 7 p.m. at Dillon Gymnasium in Princeton, N.J.
 
Both matches will be streamed on ESPN+.
 
NO. 13 IN THE NATION
For the third straight week, the Patriots check in at #13 in the AVCA DI-DII Coaches Poll. After a 1-1 weekend against ranked opponents, the Patriots hold onto its #13 ranking for an overall record of 8-2.
 
HAYDEN HONORED
Junior Hayden Wagner earned his third EIVA Offensive Player of the Week award on Monday – the most in a season by a Patriot since 2014. The opposite hitter notched his first career double-double after posting 20 kills and a career-high 11 digs vs. Ball State (Feb. 10).  
 
Wagner currently leads the nation in kills per set (4.69) and points per set (5.61). He has posted double figure kills in all but one match this season.
 
REESE GETS REWARDED
Redshirt sophomore Jack Reese earned his first EIVA Defensive Player of the Week honor this season. The middle blocker posted career highs in both kills and blocks, including a 10-kill, 5-block performance against No. 11 Ball State. This is his second EIVA weekly honor of his career.
 
EIVA PLAY HERE WE COME
The Patriots are set to play six straight conference matches over a three-week stretch. Mason returns home next weekend (Feb. 22-24) to host Alumni Weekend in part with Mason Homecoming. The Patriots will face perennial power Penn State at 7 p.m. on Friday followed by Saint Francis (Pa.) at 3 p.m. Sunday. 
 
LAST TIME OUT
The Patriots swept #15 Purdue Fort Wayne (Feb. 9) for its fifth consecutive win and third straight sweep. The following night, Mason fell in its first five set match of the season to No. 11 Ball State. 
 
SCOUTING THE OPPONENTS
NJIT: 4-4, 0-0 EIVA
NJIT is currently on a four-game winning streak to put them at .500 overall. The Highlanders have won their last three matches via sweep, with its most recent victory coming over Kean on Feb. 11. 
 
Junior opposite Piotr Namiotko leads the Highlanders in kills per set (2.61) and service aces (18). Alvaro Gimeno, the 2018 EIVA Rookie of the Year, ranks second on the team at 2.54 kills per set and 38 digs (1.46 d/s).
 
NJIT, which finished with a 9-17 overall mark last season, was selected to finished fourth in the EIVA Preseason Coaches' Poll with 47 points.
 
Princeton: 4-7, 2-0 EIVA
The Princeton Tigers began conference play last weekend with a pair of victories over Charleston (W.Va.). 
 
The Tigers have faced a challenging non-league schedule this season, battling six ranked opponents early on. Like the Patriots, the Tigers will now start a stretch of conference matches only, before participating in the BYU Tournament on March 20-23.
 
Princeton returns an All-American in George Huhmann, as well as 2018 EIVA All-Tournament Team honoree Greg Luck and former All-EIVA selection Parker Dixon.
 
The Tigers were selected to finish first in the EIVA Preseason Poll with 56 points and two first-place votes.