• Mason suffered a four-set loss to Princeton on Friday night.
• The Patriots drop to 13-7 overall and 6-3 in conference play.
• Mason hosts NJIT for its final regular season match at 7 p.m. on Saturday at the RAC.

 
FINAL: Mason 1, Princeton 3 (PDF Box Score)
Wagner – 17 kills; Velez – 38 assists; Calaman – 14 digs
 
FAIRFAX, Va. – No. 13 George Mason men's volleyball fell in four sets to conference-leader Princeton on Friday night. The Patriots drop to 13-7 overall and 6-3 in EIVA play while the Tigers improve to 11-12 overall and 9-1 in conference play.

"Princeton played a good match tonight, and although I thought we played okay, we did not match their determination and will to win," said head coach Jay Hosack. "We will have to find a better rhythm when we attack, especially after creating many opportunities in transition."

Junior Hayden Wagner (17k) and senior Kyle Barnes (10k) led Mason's offense while Will Calaman (14 digs) and Sam Greenslade (13 digs) steadied Mason's defense and passing game. Barnes and fellow senior Langston Payne combined for seven blocks in the match while Luis Velez dished out 38 assists.

A 6-1 scoring run by the Patriots allowed Mason to claim a 9-6 lead in the first set. The match then settled into a back-and-forth battle, seeing 10 ties in the game. The Tigers scored four of the final five points to seal the first set win, 25-21. Mason was limited to a .156 attacking percentage in the first set of play, registering eight attacking errors and only 13 kills. The Tigers also outblocked the Patriots five to two.

Mason came out strong in the second set to ensure there would be no sweep at the RAC. After six straight points to start the set for a score of 6-2, Mason never trailed again in the stanza. Aaron Cymbor came in to serve late in the set, providing a lift to Mason's serving game. The Patriots went on to even the match, winning the second 25-22. The Patriots' registered their highest hitting percentage of the game in the second with a .308 clip.

Princeton responded with a 25-18 third game win, to take a 2-1 lead in the match. Mason hit a match-low .032 while being unable to control the Tigers' attack. Payne hit .800 in the set with four kills on no attacking errors.  

After trailing 16-13 in the final set of play, Mason went on two 3-0 scoring runs to tie up the set, 22 all. A huge kill by Wagner tied up the set once again, 23 all.  Ultimately, the Tigers scored the final two points to win the set, 25-23, and the match 3-1.

NOTABLE STATS

• Greenslade notched a career-high 13 digs while Calaman tied his season-high 14 digs.
• Both teams combined for 31 service errors and only six combined service aces. Two aces by Greenslade helped Mason hold the 4-1 advantage in aces.
• Kyle Barnes recorded the 22nd double-digit kill match of his career with 10 kills against Princeton.
• Mason held a commanding advantage in digs, 48 to 39, but could not transition them into points.

 
UP NEXT
Mason hosts Senior Night on Saturday for its final regular season home match of the season. Kyle Barnes, Justin Coleman, Will Calaman, Travis O'Gorman, Aaron Cymbor and Langston Payne will be honored prior to the match with an on-court ceremony.