Mason (0-0) vs. Barton (0-0)
WHEN: Friday, 7 p.m.
WHERE: Wilson, N.C. | Wilson Gymnasium
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LIVE VIDEO: Click Here
Mason (0-0) vs. Mount Olive (0-0)
WHEN: Saturday, 6 p.m.
WHERE: Mount Olive, N.C. | Kornegay Arena
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LIVE VIDEO: Click Here
FAIRFAX, Va. – The George Mason men's volleyball team opens up its 2022 season on Friday, Jan. 14, as the Patriots travel to Barton College. The match is set for 7 p.m. inside Wilson Gymnasium
Mason will then head over to Mount Olive on Saturday, Jan. 15, for a 6 p.m. match inside Kornegay Arena.
The Green & Gold finished its 2021 season with an overall record of 15-7 and a 11-5 record in conference play. The Patriots were selected to finish third in the 2022 EIVA preseason coaches' poll for the fifth consecutive season.
Head coach
Jay Hosack and the Patriots return 11 student-athletes in 2022, including last season's team leaders in assists/set (
Zach Talamoa) and digs/set (
Trevor Kennan). Mason brings in seven newcomers, including graduate transfer
Brady Rosen from the University of Michigan.
Captains
Richie Hoff,
Trevor Kennan and
Jack Bolz will lead the Green & Gold for the 2022 season. Senior outside hitter Hoff tallied 66 kills, 55 digs, 10 aces and nine total blocks in 68 sets for Mason. Hoff finished fourth on the team in service aces (10).
Senior libero Kennan returns to Fairfax after leading the Patriots in digs (135) and digs per set (1.96) for his 69 sets played. He finished second in the EIVA in digs per set and fourth in total digs.
Redshirt sophomore
Jack Bolz returns to the Patriots' roster after successful 2021 campaign. Bolz tallied 87 kills, 37 digs, 22 total blocks and a service ace in 32 sets played. The opposite received his first EIVA All-Academic honor in 2021 as well as the Peter N. Sterns Provost Scholar Athlete award, the highest academic award for student-athletes at George Mason.
Mason is 32-14 (.695) all-time in season openers, including a 4-2 record under head coach
Jay Hosack.
SCOUTING BARTON (0-0, 0-0 CONFERENCE CAROLINAS)
The Bulldogs closed out their 2021 season with an overall record of 9-10, 7-6 in conference play. Barton holds a fairly young roster after losing three All-Conference Carolina winners from the previous season. The Bulldogs add an experienced graduate transfer, Zach Reider from Quincy University, to their roster and return three seniors.
Barton finished last season in a tough loss in the Conference Carolinas Championship quarterfinals against King in a three-set sweep.
The Patriots defeated the Bulldogs in three sets on Jan. 30 in the 2021 season. Mason's offense performed well last season against Barton, as the Patriots recorded the most service aces (12) since February 2020. Several Patriots recorded then career bests, season bests, and career firsts in this match.
The Patriots hold the advantage over the Bulldogs, leading the all-time series 5-0 since 2014.
SCOUTING MOUNT OLIVE (0-0, 0-0 CONFERENCE CAROLINAS)
Mount Olive closed out its 2021 season with an impressive overall record of 13-4, 11-2 in conference play. The Trojans ended their season with a 3-1 loss to Belmont Abbey in the Conference Carolinas Championship final on April 18.
Mount Olive is led by senior Tobi Azeez, who was selected as one of the Trojan's players to watch this season. The outside hitter earned an AVCA All-American Honorable Mention selection in 2021, after he recorded 307 kills and 28 service aces in 67 sets.
The Patriots defeated the Trojans in a four-set match on Jan. 19 back in 2018. Mason's defense performed well, holding Mount Olive to a .106 hitting percentage.
The Patriots hold the advantage over the Trojans, leading the all-time series 4-0 since 2005.
