FAIRFAX, Va. – The George Mason Men's Volleyball team closed out this weekend's two-game homestand with a decisive 3-0 win over Dominican (N.Y.) Sunday afternoon at the Recreation Athletic Complex (RAC). With Sunday's win, the Patriots are currently on a three-game winning streak, their second such streak since January 24-31, when they beat Merrimack, Mount Olive and University of Maryland Eastern Shore.
PATRIOT POINTS
- The Patriots dominated in every major statistical category. They put up more points (57.5 to 37.0), kills (42 to 35), aces (four to one), blocks (11 to 1), assists (40 to 34) and digs (33 to 30) than the Chargers.
- Sophomore pin hitter Aidan Weltin recorded a game-high 17 kills, the second-most in a game this season only behind his career-high 21 kills against Manhattan on Feb. 6.
- Sophomore middle blocker Alexander Lillie tied his season-high of two solo blocks for the third time and recorded game-highs in blocks (3.5) and service aces (2).
- Other Patriot game-highs came from senior setter Georgi Zahariev in assists (38) and junior opposite hitter Jackson Herbert in digs (9).
To kick off the month of March, George Mason (9-6, 2-2 EIVA) powered through with a win over Dominican (4-12, 0-0 ECC) on Sunday afternoon. The Patriot offense made quick work of Dominican, and the defense stifled the Charger attacks all game long, winning the blocking game 11 to one. Errors played a big part in the Patriots' victory, as the Chargers committed 21 to only George Mason's 13.
SET 1: George Mason - 25, Dominican - 15
The first set took the shortest amount of time to decide, only taking 20 minutes. The Patriots had five separate runs of at least three points or more consecutive points, and the Chargers committed eight attacking errors that resulted in a hitting percentage of -.036.
After Dominican took a quick 2-0 lead, the Patriots quickly went on a 6-1 run that was capped off with a solo block by sophomore middle blocker
Alexander Lillie. The solo block set the tone for the rest of the set, as the Patriots retained the lead all the way until the end.
Defense prevented any chance of the Chargers mounting a comeback. The Patriots recorded one triple block and three double blocks in the set, with the third double block being the set-winning point.
SET 2: George Mason - 25, Dominican - 19
George Mason held firm control of the second set, despite several four-plus point runs by Dominican. In the end, Patriot team blocking, service aces and sustained offensive pressure put the Chargers away in 22 minutes.
Lillie opened the set with his second solo block of the day. It was followed up with a
Georgi Zahariev ace and a Charger attacking error. Dominican recovered from the early Patriot wave and went on a 6-1 run of their own to take the lead.
George Mason fought back to level the set at 10 with a timely double block by Lillie and junior outside hitter
Robert Evangelista. From there, the Patriots went on a 9-2 run that featured a Herbert/Lillie double block, a Lillie service ace and a
Elijah Lazor/Herbert double block to take hold of the second period.
Despite a late surge by George Mason to cut the score from 24-16 to 24-19, the Patriots were able to get out of the set because of a Carsen Gore service error.
SET 3: George Mason - 25, Dominican - 22
The third set saw the most fight out of the Chargers, putting up 22 points and hitting .314 compared to George Mason's .381. Still, the Patriots recorded more kills (19 to 16) to take the final set of the day.
The scores were kept close for the majority of the game, with the score having been tied eight times by the time it was 15-15. The Patriots eventually broke the deadlock and never looked back, scoring the next three points which featured the third emphatic kill by Lazor on the day.
The Chargers got to as close as 21-20, but the Patriots went on a 5-2 run to close out the match.
COACH'S CORNER
"I am happy with the way our boys played this weekend," said head coach
Jay Hosack. "Wins are good, but I am more happy with the way we are playing the game right now. We are learning a ton in practice, and it's showing in our performances."
UP NEXT
George Mason will travel to North Carolina next week for two games. On Friday, March 6, the Patriots will play Queens University of Charlotte at 7 p.m. The following day, they will play Belmont Abbey in Belmont at 4 p.m.
