Fairfax, Va.- George Mason is turning the RAC into a fortress winning all three games that have been played at Fairfax. FDU becomes the third team to fall at the RAC this season after Mason defeated them 3-1. The Patriots remain undefeated against FDU winning all six games that have been played between the two schools. 
 
FDU came out with a promising start to the game, a different team than what Mason have faced earlier in the season. Jamal Ellis Carballo was firing from any area and acquiring the points for the Knights to achieve the 25^th point before the Patriots. There was eight moments in the game where the game was tied, but FDU had the extra push to take the set, 25-23. 
 
Troy McDonald was introduced to the game in hopes to turn around the results. For the first point of the set, Jason Ashenfelter got a kill with an assist from Troy McDonald. Colin Heath then had three consecutive kills with Jackson Herbert recording kills as well. The freshman Jackson Herbert was putting in the same numbers as his senior teammates and everyone in the crowd was in awe of the young talent. With the offensive power of Jackson Herbert, Omar Hoyos, and Colin Heath; the Patriots won the second set, 25-20.
 
Jackson Herbert was still full of energy and ready to achieve more kills, which is exactly what he did. FDU took an early 2-0 lead in the third set and it seemed as if they were locked in once again. George Mason was not affected with that result and quickly took a 4-3 lead because of an attacking error by Jack Lydon from FDU. The score was 19-14 in favor for Mason and four points were scored consecutively by the Patriots before Dylan McFadden from FDU put a halt to the attack. Omar Hoyos recorded one more kill and Troy McDonald had the final ace to score the 25^th point and hand Mason the third set and the lead, 2-1. 
 
FDU took an early lead for the fourth set, going up 5-3, but Mason responded back with five consecutive points and brought down the Knight's morale. FDU struggled to get back in the game with the Patriots going on another four-point run later with another kill by Jackson Herbert and an ace by Omar Hoyos. FDU scored a few points to stop the attacks to make it 11-16 but Mason did not let it affect their momentum. Seven consecutive points were scored by the Patriots to make it 23-11, leaving almost no chance for FDU to comeback. The Patriots did struggle towards the end of the set allowing the Knights to score five more points but the 24^th point was achieved by the star Jackson Herbert and the 25^th point was a service error to give Mason the win, 3 sets to none. 
 
By the Numbers:

• The freshman opposite hitter Jackson Herbert stole the show and recorded a season-high of 19 kills with three blocks
• Omar Hoyos recorded 14 kills and had the most aces in the game with two
• Troy McDonald may have only played three sets but still achieved 34 assists
• Colin Heath put in the work offensively and defensively recording 11 kills and eight digs
• George Mason had a good offensive outing with a .471 hitting percentage with 57 kills as a team

 
Up Next:
Mason will host a two-game series against Mount Olive on March 15^th and March 16^th at the RAC.