• Mason earned the season sweep over Sacred Heart with a four-set victory on Saturday night.
• The Patriots improve to 12-4 overall and 6-2 in conference play.
• Luis Velez recorded his second career double-double, reaching career highs in assists (44) and digs (14).

 
FINAL: Mason 3, Sacred Heart 1  (PDF Box Score)
Wagner – 18 kills; Velez – 44 assists; Velez – 14 digs

FAIRFAX, Va. – No. 14 George Mason men's volleyball earned a four-set victory over Sacred Heart on Saturday night to improve to 12-4 overall and 6-2 in conference play. The Patriots extend their winning streak over the Pioneers to 11 straight matches.

"Happy with the way our guys played tonight," said head coach Jay Hosack. "We knew that in the first game Sacred Heart was going to come out fired up. They made some good plays and I thought we did an okay job matching their energy. Things settled down for us in the second game and I thought we responded well and did a good job of finishing the match."
 
It was a career night for redshirt sophomore Luis Velez as he recorded career highs in assists (44) and digs (14). The setter notched his second career double-double while registering a career-high four blocks. Junior Hayden Wagner added a match-high 18 kills and three blocks in the victory.

Several Patriots made big contributions in the four-set win. Sam Greenslade (11), Bryce Gatling (9), Langston Payne (7) and Kyle Barnes (7) helped Mason hold a commanding advantage in kills; 53 to 40. Barnes also added a career-high four service aces, including three straight in the third set.

After dropping the opening set 25-19, the Patriots came together in the final three games to put away the victory. In the second set of play, Mason relied on its defense to secure the win. With seven total blocks in the stanza, Mason held Sacred Heart to a hitting percentage of -.029. In the middle of the second, an 8-2 scoring run allowed the Patriots to take the game with ease, 25-19.

The momentum carried into the final two sets of play. Mason's offense was lights out in the third, hitting a set-high .448 on 15 kills and two errors. The Patriots also saw success from the service line, recording five of its six service aces. Mason claimed the third set 25-16.

Mason closed out the match on a high note with a 25-15 fourth-set victory. The Patriots finished the set on an 8-2 scoring run including kills by Payne and Wagner.

NOTABLE STATS

• Barnes notched a career-high four service aces, all in the third set of play.
• Wagner has recorded double figure kills in 15 straight matches this season.
• Mason tallied 51 digs compared to Sacred Heart's 38. Calaman once again tied his season-high 12 digs to steady the defense.

UP NEXT
Mason travels to #4 Pepperdine on Tuesday, March 12 for a 10 p.m. ET match against the Waves. The Patriots then head to Grand Canyon for a pair of matches on March 15 and March 16.