The Early Years of George Mason Men's Volleyball (1975-1979)
Fairfax, VA – George Mason University men's volleyball began its history in 1975, under the leadership of head coach Wayne Stalick.
The team's inaugural match was scheduled against Cantonville Community College, but the Patriots fell short in a 2-3 loss. However, George Mason quickly rebounded, securing its first-ever victory against Salisbury State in a hard-fought 3-2 match. This win sparked a six-game winning streak, though the team was later defeated by Cantonville C.C. in a rematch. Despite the setback, the Patriots closed their first season with a strong 19-7 record. That same year, the team also launched the Patriot Invitational, which would grow to become one of the premier collegiate volleyball tournaments in the Mid-Atlantic region.
In 1976, George Mason followed up its successful debut season with another winning record, finishing 18-16-1. The team placed 7th in the Eastern College Volleyball League (ECVL) standings and made its first appearance at the National Championships. The Patriots competed in the 8th annual NAIA Tournament in Kansas City, Missouri, hosted by Rockhurst College. Their opening match was against California State-Dominguez Hills, which ended in a 0-2 loss. Despite finishing 7th in the tournament without a win, the experience proved invaluable, marking the Patriots' first step onto the national stage.
George Mason earned its first-ever victory in an NAIA Tournament the following year, defeating Nyack College (NY) 2-0 in 1977. The team continued to make strides in 1978, defeating Earlham College 2-0 at the NAIA Tournament. Two Patriots were also recognized for their exceptional play: Peter Germanis was named to the All-Tournament First Team, and Doug Porter earned a spot on the Second Team. The 1978 NAIA Tournament was particularly significant as it was hosted by the Patriot in Fairfax, showcasing the team's growing prominence in collegiate volleyball.
The 1979 season marked the end of George Mason's participation in the NAIA Tournament, as the university prepared to transition to NCAA competition. That year, three Patriots—Doug Porter, Peter Germanis, and John Hughes—received NAIA All-American honors, a testament to the team's continued excellence. The Patriots' impressive four-year run in the NAIA Tournament from 1975 to 1979 helped lay the foundation for the success that would follow as they moved into NCAA competition.
1980's:
The 1980's could be considered the golden era for George Mason men's volleyball. The decade was marked by three conference titles, three appearances at the NCAA Tournament, 11 All-Americans, 13 All-East/All-EIVA players, and many of them competing in the international stage with team USA.
John Hughes was the last Patriot to be named an NAIA All-American and the first to earn All-East/All-EIVA honors in 1981. In 1982, Willie Hughes made his mark, joining the ranks of All-East/All-EIVA players. The following year, in 1983, he became the first George Mason player to be named an NCAA All-American. Ric Lucas and Scott Graf also garnered national recognition, being selected to the All-East/All-EIVA team.
1984 marked a turning point for the Patriots as they became the Eastern Collegiate Volleyball League (ECVL) Champions for the first time. With a remarkable 33-4 record and an undefeated conference record, George Mason swept Penn State to claim the title and secure a spot in the NCAA Tournament. Jeff Abt, Jon Henwood, Willie Hughes, Moyo Kasim, and Ric Lucas earned All-East/All-EIVA honors.
In the NCAA Tournament, the Patriots lost their opening match to Pepperdine but bounced back with a dominant sweep of Ball State, securing third place nationally. John Henwood, Ric Lucas, and Moyo Kasim were named All-Americans after stellar performances throughout the season.
George Mason continued its success in 1985, once again winning the ECVL Championship and sweeping Penn State for a second consecutive year. This earned them another NCAA Tournament berth. Scott Graf, Jon Henwood, Moyo Kasim, and Ric Lucas were again named to the All-East/All-EIVA team.
In the 1985bNCAA Tournament, George Mason fell to USC in the semifinals therefore faced Ball State in a rematch from last year's third place game. George Mason would sweep Ball State once again to reclaim third place.
Ric Lucas was named First Team All-American after playing 102 sets, recording 321 kills, and setting a single-season record of 311 digs. Scott Graf was also named First Team All-American with 100 sets played, 277 kills, and a team-leading 135 blocks. Moyo Kasim, a First Team All-American for the second consecutive year, posted 412 kills with a .324 hitting percentage, 267 digs, and 80 blocks.
From 1986-1987, George Mason finished second in the EIVA Conference with Penn State getting their revenge and defeating the Patriots two years straight in the EIVA Championship game. Although the Patriots didn't make it to the NCAA Tournament during these years, individual performances continued to shine on the national stage. Moyo Kasim, often referred to as "The Prince of Nigeria," earned his third and fourth All-American honors, cementing his status as one of the greatest players in George Mason history. Uvaldo Acosta also emerged as a star, earning All-American honors in both 1986 and 1987.
After a two-year absence from the NCAA Tournament, George Mason made a triumphant return in 1988. Fueled by the sensational play of Uvaldo Acosta, who had captured national attention, the Patriots clinched the EIVA Championship by defeating #2-ranked Penn State 3-2. Though they advanced to the NCAA Tournament, George Mason lost to #5 UC Santa Barbara in the semifinals and then fell to #8 Ball State in the third-place match.
Uvaldo Acosta would close out his playing career for the Patriots with his third All-East/All-EIVA honor and his third First Team All-American honor. Acosta would go on to represent the USA National Team from 1989 to 1992.
In 1989, George Mason competed for the EIVA Championship once again facing Penn State in the final. Unfortunately for the Patriots, Penn State triumphed in a five-set thriller, denying George Mason a chance to qualify for the NCAA Tournament. Despite the defeat, Rob Bailey and Kris Grunwald stood out as All-Americans, continuing the legacy of excellence for George Mason volleyball.
From 1983 to 1989, the EIVA Championship would see the same two teams—George Mason and Penn State—competing for supremacy in the conference. These seven consecutive years of fierce competition helped build a lasting rivalry, shaping the future of East Coast volleyball and establishing a foundation of excellence that both programs would carry into the decades to come.
