• No. 13 Mason dropped a road match to Princeton on Saturday night.
• The Patriots now sit at 9-3 overall and 3-1 in EIVA play.
• Mason hit .195 in the match compared to Princeton's .397 clip.

 
FINAL: Mason 1, Princeton 3 (PDF Box Score)
Wagner – 11 kills; Velez – 17 assists; Calaman – 10 digs
 
PRINCETON, N.J. – In a battle of EIVA unbeatens, Princeton came out on top with a 3-1 win over No. 13 George Mason on Saturday night. The Patriots drop to 9-3 overall and 3-1 in conference play.

"When you are ranked and in first place in your conference, everyone is going to bring their A game," said head coach Jay Hosack. "Princeton played a fantastic match and we did not respond quickly enough."

Defensively, Mason held the advantage in digs, 28 to 26, thanks to senior Will Calaman's third game this season with double figure digs (10). The Patriots also outblocked the Tigers, seven to four; including two solo blocks from Hayden Wagner. However, the difference in the match was on offense. After hitting .577 in the opening set of play, the Patriots struggled to capitalize on scoring opportunities in the final sets of play. Wagner was the only Patriot to notch double figure kills (11). Redshirt sophomore Jack Reese added another solid performance with seven kills on a .667 clip.

Both teams traded points to open the match. After a Sam Greenslade kill, the Patriots took a 13-10 lead and never looked back. After a sneaky dump kill by setter Luis Velez, Mason extended its lead to five, 21-16. The Green & Gold fought off a Tiger comeback to secure the first set win, 25-21. Wagner tabbed four kills in the set while Velez guided Mason to a set-high hitting percentage of .577.

Mason looked to build on its momentum in the second set. After a 6-1 run by Mason, the Patriots claimed an early 7-5 lead. However, later in the set, three straight points for the Tigers gave them the 15-11 advantage in the set. Wagner then notched two perfectly placed service aces, followed up by a big time block by Velez and Bryce Gatling to even the set 17 all. Ultimately the Tigers would score the final five points of the set to win, 25-21.

In the third set, a 3-0 scoring run by Princeton opened its lead, 10-7. After taking the early edge, the Tigers held onto their lead for the remainder of the set. Kills from Langston Payne and Mike Kapusta cut the lead to two, 17-15. However, Mason was unable to overcome the deficit, dropping the third set to Princeton, 25-19.  Mason hit a set-low .043 clip in the third set.

Both teams attempted overcome their own struggles in final set of play; Princeton from behind the service line and Mason offensively. The Tigers led by as many as six in the set to maintain control of the final stages of the match. Point by point, Mason inched away at the deficit, cutting Princeton's lead to three for a score of 20-17. Ultimately it would be too late for a Patriot comeback as Princeton claimed the final set, 25-20.
 
NOTABLE STATS

• The Patriots hit .359 in the first two sets but struggle offensively in the final sets, hitting .047 in sets three and four combined.
• Mason earned 30 points off Princeton service errors but the Tigers held the advantage in service aces, 9 to 3.
• Princeton hit a set-high .577 in the fourth and decisive set.

 
UP NEXT
Mason returns to Fairfax, Va., for four consecutive homes matches. The homestand begins with Alumni Weekend where the Patriots will welcome Penn State (Feb. 22) and Saint Francis (Feb. 24).