Fairfax, Va.- George Mason were swept by Grand Canyon on Friday night after a tough fight in the third set. The Lopes took control for the first two set and were forced to score 26 points in the third to finalize the game.
The first set began with Grand Canyon taking an early 3-1 lead but the Patriots were ready to fight back. The Patriots scored three straight points with
Jackson Herbert and
Alexander Lillie securing a point each. George Mason had an early 4-3 lead but the Lopes would respond back with three straight points to retake the lead. George Mason was not able to regain the lead and Grand Canyon would take the first set 18-25.
The second set started in favor for the Patriots, reaching an early 3-1 lead with kills by newcomers
Alexander Lillie and
Aidan Weltin. Grand Canyon woke up quick and would score five points in succession to take a clear lead of 6-3 and forcing the Patriots to call a timeout. The Lopes were at a 10-4 lead causing the Patriots to make a substitution, subbing on
Troy McDonald. Grand Canyon was unfazed and continued to rack up points and run away with the set.
George Mason started the third set strong fighting with the Lopes reaching a 5-5 score line with blocks by
Evan Snodgrass and
Aidan Weltin. Grand Canyon would once again go in one of their unstoppable runs and score six unanswered points to lead 11-5. The Patriots went on a run themselves, scoring four in a row to cut down the lead to only two points. Two kills by
Giomar Collazo Santiago would put the Patriots behind by only one point at the end of the third set, 22-23. Another kill by
Robert Evangelista and a service error by the Lopes would force the third set to go to the 26
th point. Grand Canyon walked away with the third set, 26-24.
By the Numbers:
Up Next:
The Patriots will face Grand Canyon again tomorrow at 6 pm at the Antelope Gymnasium to close off the two-game series against the Lopes.
