FAIRFAX, Va. – The Patriots downed the Barton Bulldogs 3-1 to push their win streak to three games.
 
The Patriots started off strong in the first two sets, let their foot off the gas some in the third and then roared back to dominate the fourth. The finals scores were 25-19, 25-14, 24-26 and 25-16.
 
The Bulldogs were able to create some problems early on in the first. They led at 10-6 and also at 14-11. Then, the tides changed as the Patriots went on a 6-0 run. During that span, Liam French tallied three kills and a block assist. Lucas Little would notch an ace and a block assist as well. With that run, the Patriots scored 14 out of the last 19 points to take the set 25-19.
 
The Patriots put on a clinic in the second and jumped out to an early 10-3 lead. They extended that to double digits multiple times and closed it out 25-14. Everyone contributed as four different Patriots earned aces and blocks. The Patriots outscored the Bulldogs 13-5 in kills and 5.5-1.5 in blocks.
 
The third started off poorly when the Bulldogs jumped out to an early 6-2 lead. The Patriots tied it up immediately at 6-6 but were unable to find a lot of momentum as the set continued. The score went back and forth as there were 18 tied scores and seven lead changes.
 
Barton nothced two service aces, something they hadn't done all game. Mason committed seven attacking errors and four service errors along with four out of the last five points to lose the third 26-24.
 
The Patriots looked frustrated with their performance and in the fourth they came out rolling. They took an early lead at 7-4 and then at 11-7. The Bulldogs would cut it to two just to see Mason go on another 4-point run to put the set out of reach (19-13). It ended 25-16 thanks to a great defensive effort that forced eight attacking errors, three receiving errors and blocks from five different players.
 
"I was happy with our effort tonight," said Coach Hosack. "We got a couple guys some time tonight, and they finished strong. We are getting better each week, and I like our progress so far."
 
By the Numbers
 

• The Patriots led in kills (55-34), aces (12-3), blocks (15-8), set assists (52-32) and digs (40-32).
• Georgi Zahariev earned a career-high in set assists in one match with 46
• Liam French set his career-high in kills (18) in one match for the second game in-a-row
• Paul Wyszynski led the team in digs with 10, followed by Zahariev with 9 and Paul Russel with 6

 
Up Next
 
The Patriots will face Limestone University next Friday, Mar. 10th at 7:00 P.M. and Saturday Mar. 11th at 3:00 P.M. at the RAC.