Jan. 15, 2008

Box Score

FAIRFAX, Va. - The thirteenth-ranked George Mason men's volleyball team opened its 2008 campaign with a dominating defensive effort against the University of Puerto Rico-Mayaguez to down the Tarzanes in three games (30-18, 30-20, 30-25). The Patriots held UPRM to a .034 hitting percentage and registered 20 blocks in the match.

The Tarzanes had a tough time getting the ball past Mason's middle blockers all night long as the team finished the match without a single player registering double-digit kills. Senior R.J. Goubeaux returned to the court after redshirting last season due to shoulder surgery and made an immediate impact, coming up with 11 total blocks in the match to set a new career high. Sophomore Brandon McLaughlin had three blocks, while sophomore Erik Lanham came off the bench to record five blocks.

Joining in the block party was junior Kyle Gramit, who had eight stuffs in the match. Gramit, playing his first game at the opposite hitter spot, also led the team in kills with 13 and digs with five. Junior outside hitter Hudson Bates was also active on the attack, finishing the match with 10 kills. George Mason hit .385 as a team, including a high of .450 in the first game.

With the win, the Patriots improve their record in the all-time series against Puerto Rico-Mayaguez to 5-1, with the lone loss coming during the 2005 season, which was also the first year the two teams met. Mason has won the past four matches against Mayaguez and has taken 11 consecutive games against the Tarzanes during that span.

The two teams meet again tomorrow at the Fieldhouse with the first serve slated for 7:30 p.m.