FAIRFAX, Va. – The George Mason Patriots host the Uvaldo Acosta Memorial Tournament this weekend from Jan. 26-28.
- GEORGE MASON v NJIT Jan. 26 7 PM
- #6 Pepperdine v NJIT Jan. 27 5 PM
- GEORGE MASON v #6 Pepperdine Jan. 28 5 PM
You can watch on
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UVALDO ACOSTA LEGACY
Uvaldo Acosta is known to be one of the greatest Mason men's volleyball players ever. He still holds two NCAA tournament records with 27 digs in one match, and 40 digs in one tournament. Acosta was a three-time All-American for the Patriots and led George Mason to the 1988 NCAA Final Four. He was a member of the U.S. National team from 1989-1992. After his playing career, Acosta took over the helm of the George Mason program and in his second year as coach he tragically drowned during a trip to Hawaii with his team at the age of 32. The EIVA Player of the Year award is named after Acosta and each year Mason holds the Uvaldo Acosta Memorial Tournament to honor its alumnus and coach.
Patriot's Summary
The Patriots are still looking for their first win after starting 0-4 on the season. This past weekend they fell 3-1 to LIU and 3-0 to now #2 Long Beach State. This Thursday will mark their first conference game as they look to find some rhythm and put together a complete game.
Heading into this weekend,
Jack Bolz leads the team in kills with 44 averaging 3.39 per set followed by
Omar Hoyos (40, 2.86). In the assist category, freshman
Georgi Zahariev leads with 113 assists averaging 8.07 per set and
Troy McDonald with seven. On the defensive side, Hoyos and
Paul Wyszynski have tallied (23) and (20) digs.
Scouting NJIT (3-3)
The Highlanders are led by head coach Danny Goncalves in his eighth season. Last weekend, they fell to Loyola Chicago 3-0 and defeated St. Francis (Brooklyn) 3-1.
Alessandro Negri leads the team in kills with 62, 3.10 per set. Teammate Julian Meissner follows with 46 kills (2.71). Their primary setter is Roque NIdo with 107 assists (8.23), but Griffin Fieseler has 68 of his own (6.80). Defensively, they are led by Alessandro Negri with 23 digs and Antonio Feliciano with 22.
Mason leads the all-time series 58-13.
Scouting #5 Pepperdine (5-1)
The Waves are led by former NCAA Champion and National Player of the Year Jonathan Winder in his first year as head coach at Pepperdine. This past weekend they lost to #4 Penn State 3-1 and defeated Lewis 3-1.
Jaylen Jasper leads the country in kills and kills per set this season with 100 and 5.26. The team as a whole have recorded the most set assists with 273 with the help of Bryce Dvorak who has 226 and the second most per set in the nation with 11.89. Trey Cole contributes with the most digs, followed by Jaylen Jasper with 29.
Pepperdine leads the all-time series 11-1.
