Box Score (PDF)
 

FAIRFAX, Va. - The George Mason men's volleyball team (0-1,0-0) fell to No. 2 UCLA (2-0, 0-0) in straight sets (22-25, 28-30, 23-25) on Saturday night inside the RAC.

The Patriots fought hard throughout the entirety of the match, as there were 21 ties and nine lead changes throughout the three sets. In the exciting second set, the Patriots battled from a 10-15 deficit all the way to a 27-26 lead, but could not finish as the Bruins took the second set 30-28. Mason earned early leads in all three sets.

Senior Hayden Wagner led Mason with 10 kills, to go along with three digs and a service ace for 13.5 points on the night.

Redshirt junior Luis Velez led the Patriots in assists (18), coupled with four digs. 

In the first set, the Patriots jumped out to an early 9-4 advantage, however the Bruins went on an 11-5 run of their own, regaining the lead. The Green & Gold kept pace with UCLA throughout the set but could not regain the lead, falling 25-22.

Game two was a compelling one. The set included seven lead changes and numerous scoring runs for both teams. The Patriots earned an early 10-6 edge, but a timely timeout by the Bruins allowed UCLA to regroup and tie the set at 19 apiece. The teams went back and forth from then on, trading kills until the Bruins earned back-to-back kills to complete the set 30-28.

In the final set, the Patriots once again earned an early lead but could not maintain it. The Bruins controlled the latter half of the game to secure their second road victory of the year in straight sets, 25-23.

UP NEXT

Mason will compete in the AVCA Men's Volleyball Showcase from Jan. 10-11 inside the RAC in Fairfax, Va. The Patriots will host No. 12 USC on Friday (Jan. 10) at 7 p.m. and No. 7 Stanford on Saturday (Jan. 11) at 7 p.m.