No. 6 Mason (13-14, 7-9 EIVA) vs. No. 3 NJIT (15-10, 10-6 EIVA)
WHEN: Wednesday, 4:30 p.m.
WHERE: University Park, Pa. | Rec Hall
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FAIRFAX, Va. – The George Mason men's volleyball team (13-14, 7-9 EIVA) will compete in the first round of the EIVA Championship tournament, facing off against NJIT (15-10, 10-6 EIVA) on Wednesday Apr. 20 at 4:30 p.m. inside Rec Hall.
 
LAST TIME OUT

Mason is coming off a weekend series with Harvard, dropping both matches of the series.

Redshirt sophomore Jack Bolz earned his first career EIVA postseason selection, earning a spot on the All-EIVA Second Team. The opposite led Mason in kills (331) in 2022. Bolz led the conference in kills per set (3.52) and second in the conference in kills. The Park Ridge, Ill. native tallied three career EIVA Player of the Week awards during the 2022 campaign. Bolz set several career highs during the season, but most notably was his 22 kills on 59 attempts along with 15 digs in the record-breaking match with SFC on 3/26/22. Bolz tied his previous career high 21 kills set during the 2022 season four different times.

Sophomore Omar Hoyos contributed in a great way offensively for the Patriots in the past week of play. The outside hitter tied the team lead and match lead for kills (19) in the match on Friday while also leading the team in hitting percentage (0.361). Hoyos recorded a double-double with 12 digs in the match to help lead the team on defense. Went 23-for-23 in receptions on Friday and only committed two service errors in 25 attempts for a service percentage of 0.920.

Hoyos earned his first career EIVA postseason award, notching a spot on the All-EIVA Second Team alongside teammate Bolz. The outside hitter led Mason in service aces (33) and digs (187) and was second on the team in kill (293) in 2022. Hoyos was third in the conference in total kills and total digs and was fifth in digs per set (1.85). The Pembroke Pines, Fla. native tallied two career EIVA Player of the Week awards during his sophomore campaign. Hoyos set several career highs during the season, recording career high 23 kills on career high 46 attempts at St. FC on 2/12/22 along with tying his career high five service aces in that match.

Sophomore Colin Heath led the team on the defensive end this past week. The libero recorded a team high and match high 15 digs in Friday's match, tying his career high. Heath also led the team I digs on Saturday, recording 12 in the match. Over the weekend, the libero tallied 55 receptions (31 on Friday and 24 on Saturday) and went a perfect 55-for-55 in receptions.

 
SCOUTING THE OPPONENTS
 
NO. 3 NJIT (15-10, 10-6 EIVA)
 
The Highlanders closed out the regular season with two victories over St. Francis Brooklyn. NJIT earned their first win over the Terriers in four sets (25-23, 24-26, 25-18, 25-23) before earning their second win a three set (25-16, 25-22, 25-13) sweep.

NJIT is led offensively by junior Julian Meissner. The opposite leads the team with 286 total kills in 82 sets played. He has also tallied nine assists and 24 service aces so far this season. Meissner was named to the All-EIVA First Team for his efforts during the 2022 campaign, his third postseason award of his career.

Freshman Alessandro Negri leads the Highlanders on the defensive end. The outside hitter has recorded 116 digs in 82 sets played. He has also tallied 66 total blocks, 10 solo, so far this season. Negri was named to the All-EIVA First Team for his efforts during the 2022 campaign, the first of his career.
 
The Patriots and the Highlanders met two times previously this season, splitting the meetings 1-1 each recording their victory on their home courts.