Mason (3-2) vs. Saint Francis (2-4)
WHEN: Friday, 7 p.m.
WHERE: Loretto, Pa. | DeGol Arena
LIVE STATS: Click Here
LIVE VIDEO: Click Here
 
Mason (3-2) vs. No. 5 Penn State (5-3)
WHEN: Saturday, 7 p.m.
WHERE: University Park, Pa. | Rec Hall
LIVE STATS: Click Here
LIVE VIDEO: Click Here
 
 
FAIRFAX, Va. – The George Mason men's volleyball team (3-2) travels to Pennsylvania to open conference play at Saint Francis (2-4) on Friday, Feb. 4. The match is set for 7 p.m. inside DeGol Arena.
 
Mason will then head over to No. 5 Penn State (5-3) on Saturday, Feb. 5, for a 7 p.m. match inside Rec Hall.
 

LAST TIME OUT
Mason is coming off a home opener win this past weekend against North Greenville inside the RAC. The Green & Gold defeated the Crusaders last Saturday in four sets (25-20, 21-25, 25-23, 26-24).
Sophomore Omar Hoyos led the Patriots on both the offensive and defensive ends. The outside hitter recorded 21 kills, two assists, three service aces, 11 digs, and two blocks in the match.
 
On the offensive and defensive ends, redshirt sophomore Jack Bolz is not far behind, tallying 16 kills and one service ace in four sets of action. The opposite also led the team in digs, recording 11 over the weekend.
 
Sophomore Sam Peters made his first appearance for the Green & Gold this season.
 
 
SCOUTING THE OPPONENTS
 
SAINT FRANCIS (2-4)
 
The Red Flash are coming off a weekend split against Purdue Fort Wayne. Saint Francis lost in four sets in the first match (25-22, 21-25, 21-25, 24-26), but won the second match in a thrilling five sets (25-23, 25-23, 20-25, 23-25, 15-13). The Red Flash finished their 2021 season with an overall record of 8-19, and a 6-12 record in the conference.

The Red Flash are led offensively and defensively by junior Blake Liprando. The outside hitter leads the team with 51 total kills. He has also tallied 34 digs in 20 sets played.

Sophomore Thomas Leahey also leads the Red Flash on the offensive end. The outside hitter has recorded 38 kills and four service aces in 21 sets played, earning a team high hitting percentage of 42.0.
 
The Patriots hold the advantage over the Red Flash, leading the all-time series 23-15 since 2005.
 
NO. 5 PENN STATE (5-3)
 
The Nittany Lions are coming off a weekend split against No. 11 University of California Santa Barbara and No. 3 Long Beach State. Penn State lost in three sets in the match against No. 11 UC Santa Barbara (13-25, 21-25, 21-25), but were able to pull of the win in the second match in five sets (25-27, 25-21, 20-25, 25-23, 15-11) against No. 3 Long Beach State.

Penn State finished their 2021 season with an overall record of 22-4, and a 16-2 record in the conference. The Nittany Lions won the EIVA Championship title before falling in the opening round of the NCAA tournament.

The Nittany Lions are led by senior Cal Fisher on the offensive end. The opposite has tallied 106 kills in 28 sets played, good for being the top leader in the EIVA conference for kills.
 
On the defensive end, the Nittany Lions are led by redshirt senior Will Bantle. The libero recorded 59 digs in 28 sets of action. Sophomore middle block Toby Ezeonu leads the team in blocks, tallying 22 so far this season.

The Nittany Lions hold the advantage over the Patriots, leading the all-time series 19-125.