Fairfax, Va.- George Mason have lost against the University of Charleston for the second time since 2015. In the last three matchups, Charleston have won two of them. It was Mason's first ever loss as the visiting team against Charleston. 
 
Game Recap:
 
The Patriots began the first set with an early 3-1 lead but that would soon change once Charleston tied the game up and eventually passed Mason for a comfortable 11-6 score line. Charleston did not give up the lead for the remainder of the set and Mason were not able to make it a closer game. The Golden Eagles took the first set, 25-18, having a much greater hitting percentage of .556 compared to Mason's .304. George Mason also had double the service errors (6-3) which helped Charleston reach the 25^th point. 
 
The second set almost similar to the first set with Charleston taking over and trying to run away with the lead until Mason was able to tie the game at 17-16. A block by Lucas Little, a kill by Sam Peters, and two consecutive blocks by Sam Peters and Liam French gave the Patriots their first comfortable lead, 21-17. Charleston was able to score three more points but the Patriots scored four points as well to take the second set and have a tie game. The hitting percentage improved massively by the Patriots, .417. The defensive work with four blocks were vital for Mason winning the set, 25-20. 
 
Both teams wanted to take the upper hand in the game which led to a hard fought third set. Charleston would take the lead but Mason would fight back and tie it once again up until the very end of the set. Charleston was had a set point but with a service error by Max Nissen, the set would have to be extended. Mason was not able to score more points and Charleston did their duty to reach the 26^th point and achieve the 2-1 lead. 
 
Charleston wanted to finalize the game and Mason wanted to fight for a fifth set. The Golden Eagles achieved an early lead of 6-1 and it seemed as if they would run away with the fourth set. The score was 15-21 when Mason turned on the gears and scored seven consecutive points to have their first lead of the fourth set, 22-21. Three points from Omar Hoyos, two kills by Liam French, and a kill by Jack Bolz catapulted Mason up front. Charleston was able to regain the lead and reach set point but a kill by Liam French would tie the game at 24-24 to extend the set once again. Similar to the third, Mason was not able to score more points and Charleston reached the desired 26^th point to finalize the game. 
 
By the Numbers: 

• Redshirt Sophomore outside hitter Liam French had the most kills from both teams with 16 kills
• Senior outside hitter Omar Hoyos recorded three service aces and nine digs
• Senior middle blocker Sam Peters displayed his defensive abilities achieving six blocks
• Sophomore setter Troy McDonald took charge of the assists registering 34
• Overall, the hitting percentages were very similar between both teams, Mason had .255 while Charleston recorded a .260 hitting percentage