Fairfax, Va.- George Mason traveled up to New Jersey for the first conference game of the 2024 season. Their first rival was a tough NJIT team who had an overall record of 7-5 and have had the upper hand against GMU in the past few years. 

The first set began with both GMU and NJIT exchanging points and keeping it a close game until the score line was 6-7 in favor of NJIT.  The Highlanders than ran away with the lead scoring six points consecutively to have a 13-6 lead over the Patriots. Mason struggled to get back into the game and NJIT had a very comfortable lead making it 20-10. Mason was able to score three more points but the Highlanders also scored the last five points to run away with the first set, 25-13.

A different George Mason came into the second set, taking an early 7-4 lead. Mason was able to maintain the lead for most the game, still having a three-point lead towards the end of set, 20-17. NJIT woke up and scored three unanswered points to tie up the game at 20 but Mason was not giving up making sure they regained a lead. The game was 22-22 and Colin Heath once again gave Mason an important 23-22 lead but NJIT did not want to be left behind. The senior outside hitter Omar Hoyos had a kill to once again to give Mason a new lead and a set point (24-23). The second set was extended with NJIT tying up the game at 24, 25, and 26. Colin Heath came to rescue for the Patriots scoring the final point of the set to tie the game at 1-1. Second set ended in favor for GMU, 28-26. 

George Mason kept the momentum going from the second set to secure an 8-4 lead in the third set. Mason extended their lead to five points, 13-8, and NJIT were looking for ways to come back into the game. NJIT were close to tying up the game but Sam Peters came up big with a soft kill to confuse the defense and regain a three-point lead for Mason, 15-12. Lucas Little and Troy McDonald had a big block to extend the Mason lead to 17-13 causing the Highlanders to call a timeout. Jack Bolz and Lucas Little had another immense block to earn a six-point lead of 20-14. Jack Bolz wanted a safer lead and added another kill to his name in the next play to extend the lead to seven points. Two service errors by the Highlanders gave Mason the final two points needed to take the third set and gain a 2-1 lead. 

Mason came out firing in the fourth set and an exceptional defense gave the Patriots and early 8-2 lead. Jack Bolz had two consecutive service aces to extend the Mason lead to 11-2. NJIT scored four unanswered points to cut the lead down to 11-6 and forcing George Mason to call a timeout. The Highlanders continued their momentum making it a three-point game, 14-11, forcing head coach Jay Hosack to call another timeout. The Patriots got their head back into the game not allowing NJIT to surpass them. Mason maintained a three-point lead, 21-18, in the final moments of the fourth set. A service error by NJIT's Fedmasu gave Mason their 22nd point. Jack Bolz achieved another kill and Sam Peters blocked an attempt by Alessandro Negri. George Mason was one point away from winning the first conference game of the season. The score was 24-21, until the redshirt senior opposite hitter Jack Bolz had the final kill to secure the final point and secure the first conference win for the Patriots. 

Quotable:
"It has been a while since we have won at NJIT", said head coach Jay Hosack. "I am proud of my team's response after the first set. That set was not our best effort, but to buckle down after that to take the next three sets shows the heart in our team".

By the Numbers:

• Colin Heath led the team with 10 kills and Sam Peters right behind him with 9
• Omar Hoyos had the most aces in the game with 4
• Lucas Little led the team in blocks (4)
• Troy McDonald gave out 38 assists, the most from the Patriots
• Omar Hoyos had defensive work to do achieving 10 digs, the most from both teams
• The hitting percentage from both team were very similar, GMU had .324 and NJIT recorded a .327 hitting percentage