• Mason earned a 3-0 sweep over Sacred Heart on Friday night.
• The Patriots improve to 11-4 overall and 5-2 in EIVA play.
• Mason takes on Sacred Heart on Saturday night at 7 at the Recreation Athletic Complex.

 
FINAL: Mason 3, Sacred Heart 0 (PDF Box Score)
Wagner – 16 kills; Velez – 38 assists; Calaman – 12 digs
 
FAIRFAX, Va. – No. 14 George Mason men's volleyball improved to 11-4 overall and 5-2 in EIVA play with a sweep over Sacred Heart on Friday Night. The Patriots extend their winning streak over the Pioneers to 10 matches, dating back to 2014. 

Mason wraps up its homestand with a 7 p.m. contest against the Pioneers on Saturday at the Recreation Athletic Complex.

"I thought we did just enough to win," said head coach Jay Hosack. "We need to play more consistent if we want to feel good about our performances at the end of a match."

Junior Hayden Wagner ignited Mason's offense with 16 kills on a .387 clip. The opposite hitter has tabbed double figure kills in all but one match this season. He also stepped up on defense, registering a match-high six blocks – two solo. Redshirt sophomore Luis Velez guided Mason's offense to a season-best hitting percentage of .470 with 38 assists – one shy of his career-high.

The Patriots also received efficient performances from senior Kyle Barnes, junior Sam Greenslade and redshirt sophomore Jack Reese. Barnes tabbed nine kills with zero attacking errors for a .562 clip. Greenslade (9k) and Reese (6k) each only recorded one attacking error to help lift Mason's offense.

Defensively, senior Will Calaman tied his season-high in digs with 12 saves. The libero has notched five matches this season with double figure digs. Redshirt senior Langston Payne's three blocks helped Mason hold the advantage in total blocks, eight to three.

The first set of play saw nine ties and three lead changes. Late in the first, the Patriots found ways to even the game on several plays. After a save by Velez led to a Payne kill, Mason tied the score 21 all. The Patriots finished the set on a 5-1 scoring run to win the first stanza, 25-22.

Velez's serve provided Mason the early lift in the second set as the Patriots opened the set on a 5-0 scoring run. An 8-1 run by the Pioneers evened the set 13 all. After a kill by Velez, Mason opened its lead to three, 21-18. A monster block by Wagner and Payne ultimately gave Mason the set win, 25-21.

Four straight kills early in the third set gave Mason the 8-5 advantage. The teams then traded points for a score of 17-13 in favor of Mason. Although Sacred Heart tied up the set 17-17, Mason responded with one final run to end the match. Three straight kills by Wagner and match point by Greenslade gave Mason the sweep, 25-20. Wagner tabbed seven of his 16 kills in the final set of play.
 
NOTABLE STATS

• Mason recorded 46 total kills on only seven attacking errors to outhit the Pioneers, .470 to .244.
• The Patriots defense stood strong with 31 digs compared to Sacred Heart's 24.
• Barnes' nine kills on zero attacking errors are the most kills the outside attacker has recorded in his career without an error.

 
UP NEXT
Mason wraps up its homestand with one more match against Sacred Heart at 7 p.m. Saturday at the RAC. The Patriots then hit the road for three straight road matches.