FAIRFAX, Va. – The Patriots Men's Volleyball Team is hosting the EIVA/A-10 Challenge this weekend.
- GEORGE MASON v Princeton Mar. 24 7 PM
- Princeton v #9 Loyola Chicago Mar. 25 5:00 PM
- GEORGE MASON v #9 Loyola Chicago Mar. 26 3 PM
It will feature three games between the Patriots, Princeton Tigers and Loyola Chicago Ramblers. The first two games will take place at the RAC, while Sunday's match (
Bold) will be played in EagleBank Arena.
Last weekend, the Patriots defeated FDU twice (3-1, 3-0).
Omar Hoyos was named the AVCA National Collegiate Player of Week recording a total of 29 kills, three set assists, four aces, seven blocks (2 solo, 5 assist), and 12 digs.
Hoyas and freshmen
Georgi Zahariev (65 set assists, eight blocks (1 solo, 7 assist) and team-high 17 digs) were named EIVA Offensive and Defensive Player of the Week as well.
On Tuesday, The Patriots traveled to NJIT and suffered a 3-0 loss. They will look to rebound in this weekend's two contests.
So far this season,
Omar Hoyos leads the team in kills with 210 (3.50 per set) and
Liam French is second with 200 (3.03). Zahariev continues to be the team's primary setter tallying 556 set assists (8.97), although
Troy McDonald has earned time there as well (104/6.12). On the defensive side, libero
Paul Wyszynski contributes with the most digs (113/1.74) with Zahariev close behind (100/1.61).
Scouting Princeton (8-10) EIVA (3-2)
The Tigers are led by head coach Sam Shweisky in his 14th season. Last season, they defeated #1 nationally ranked Penn State and won the EIVA title.
Ben Harrington leads the team in kills with 82 (3.55). Teammate Nyherowo Omene follows with 163 kills (2.43). The Tigers have one main setter, Henry Wedbush with 616 assists (9.33). Defensively, they are led by Wedbush with 95 digs and Harrington with 87.
The Patriots lead the all-time series 47-30.
Scouting #9 Loyola Chicago (17-3) MIVA (8-1)
The Ramblers are led by John Hawks in his 1st season as head coach. He served as an assistant for UCLA for the last seven years and was named last year's AVCA Division I-II Assistant Coach of the Year.
Parker Van Buren leads the team and is 5th in the nation in kills and kills per set this season with 291 and 4.10. Next, is Cole Schlothauer with 217 (3.50). The team's setter is Dan Mangun with 734 assists, and is 3rd in the country in assists per set (10.19). Matt Oakley contributes with the most digs (129), followed by Dan Mangun with 128.
The Ramblers lead the all-time series 16-5.
