FAIRFIELD, Conn. – The George Mason men's volleyball team (6-7, 1-5 EIVA) earned a victory in four sets (24-26, 25-17, 25-18, 25-23) against Sacred Heart (5-7, 1-5 EIVA) on Friday night inside the William H Pitt Center. This is Mason's first conference win of the season.
Mason started the match with a slight disadvantage to Sacred Heart, before storming back to take the lead. The Patriots forced four different match points before the Pioneers took the set 26-24.
The next two sets start in a similar back and forth fashion like the previous two matches for the Patriots. Mason's offense bounced back in a triumphant effort to win the second set and then the third set by a wide margin, forcing a decisive fourth set.
Though winning the second and third sets in a strong manner, the Green & Gold started the fourth set at the disadvantage. After regrouping, the Patriots were able to tie the lead off a kill from redshirt sophomore
Jack Bolz.
The set continued in a thrilling back and forth manner where the Patriots were able to take the lead at the 23
rd point. A kill from sophomore
Jason Ashenfelter sealed the deal for the Patriots, earning them their first conference win of the season.
"Got that monkey off our back finally," said Head Coach
Jay Hosack. " Winning our first conference match was a major discussion for us and I thought we executed our game plan well. They are going to come out hot tomorrow, so we have to hold our ground."
INSIDE THE NUMBERS
- Redshirt sophomore Jack Bolz led the offensive momentum for the Patriots, tallying match highs and team highs in kills (21) and service aces (2).
- Bolz tied his career high in kills during the match.
- Sophomore Collin Heath led the team on the defensive end, tallying a match high and team high in digs (10).
- Sophomore Omar Hoyos led the team on the offensive and defensive ends as well, recording 14 kills and seven digs in the win.
- Freshman Lucas Little led the match in blocks, tallying 11 (one solo) in four sets played.
- This is Little's third match in a row leading the team in blocks.
- The middle block Lucas Little also led the team in hitting percentage, notching a 0.500 mark (six kills on 10 attempts).
- Freshman Troy McDonald notched a new career high in assists, recording 49 in the match.
- The Patriots tallied 25 total blocks in the match.
- Mason outhit Sacred Heart, 35.6 percent to the Pioneers' 20.2 percent.
- Mason tallied 53 kills to Sacred Heart's 49.
- Both Mason and Sacred Heart recorded five service aces a piece in the match.
UP NEXT
Mason will close out the weekend with another match against Sacred Heart on Saturday Mar. 5 with first serve slated for 6 P.M. inside the William H. Pitt Center.
