FAIRFAX, Va.- Senior outside hitter Omar Hoyas entered the Mason record books with his 1,000th career kill in the 3-1 victory over Mount Olive on Saturday at the Recreation and Athletic Complex (RAC). The Patriots won their fifth straight match and remained undefeated at home. 
 
Hoyos needed 14 kills entering the match to reach the milestone and quickly recorded five kills in the first set. Mount Olive started the game with a 2-0 lead, but that would be the only lead the Trojans would have for the rest of the set. Mason came back with three consecutive points and did not let go of that lead. The Patriots would eventually go on a five-point run with three kills by freshman opposite hitter Jackson Herbert and a block by junior middle blocker Lucas Little to extend their lead to 18-11. Hoyos notched the 25th point to end the first. 
 
With the crowd in the arena waiting for the historic moment, Omar would move closer to the record by scoring another six kills in the second set. Mason took a quick 5-0 lead with sophomore setter Georgi Zahariev and Herbert leading the charge. The Patriots went on another three-point run to take a commanding 17-7 advantage. The Trojans struggled to get back into the game and Herbert scored the 25th point for the Patriots to end the set.
 
Only three kills from the milestone, Hoyos notched the incredible number of 1,000 kills in the third set, with the crowd acknowledging the accomplishment with a standing ovation. Mount Olive remained focused and took the third set, 25-22. Kory Grant by the Trojans had the final kill to record the 25th point to force a fourth set.
 
Mason started quick in the fourth set and took an early 3-0 lead. The Patriots would later go on a four-point run to extend their lead to 9-4.  Zahariev scored with two consecutive aces to help Mason pad the advantage to 14-8. The Trojans attempted to make a comeback, but blocks by Little and senior outside hitter Colin Heath sealed the 25-19 victory in the fourth set to end the match and extend the Mason winning streak to five. 
 
BY THE NUMBERS: 

• Lucas Little notched a career-high nine blocks and scored 13 points and was a threat on both offense and defense
• Hoyos recorded 18 kills and achieved the historic mark of 1,000 career kills
• Zahariev had an amazing display from the service line, finishing the match with a career-high five aces and 41 assists 
• Heath finished with a team-high 13 digs and also recorded three blocks and nine kills
• George Mason finished the match with a .330 hitting percentage, while Mount Olive had a .165 hitting percentage

UP NEXT:

Mason continues its 11-match homestand on Friday and Saturday against Tusculum University.  The first serve on Friday is scheduled for 7 p.m. and the first serve on Saturday is slated for 5 p.m. at the RAC in Fairfax, Va.