Jan. 27, 2007

Box Score

FAIRFAX, Va. - No. 15 George Mason (2-1) easily defeated the Lees-McRae Bobcats (1-1) in front of the home crowd at John Linn Memorial Gym on Saturday afternoon. The Patriots closed out the match in three games by scores of 30-26, 30-25 and 30-24.

The match was never in doubt as Mason outhit Lees-McRae .382 to .160 in the match. The Patriots outplayed the Bobcats in nearly every statistical category, including kills (48-37), assists (45-36), service aces (9-3), team blocks (8-6) and points (65-46). Lees-McRae did have more digs in the match than Mason, with 25 to the Patriots' 17.

For the third consecutive match, redshirt freshman opposite hitter Will Price, the reigning EIVA Tait Division Player of the Week, led Mason's attack, finishing with a match-high 22 kills, in addition to a match-high four aces. Price has led the team in kills in each match this season. Redshirt junior outside hitter Hudson Bates also finished in double-digits, with 10 kills on the afternoon. Redshirt junior Billy Freesmeier and redshirt freshman Ryan Kwiatkowski split time at setter, with Kwiatkowski finishing with 25 assists in two games and Freesmeier dishing out 18 assists in the first game. Senior libero Graham Sheppard led the Patriots with six digs.

Senior outside hitter Justin Wozniel was the only player for Lees-McRae to finish with a double-digit kill total, recording 10 in the match. Senior setter Luis Lazaballet led all players with 33 assists, while senior outside hitter Justin Harris led the Bobcats with six digs.

Today's match marks only the second time in history the two teams have faced each other. The only other meeting was last season, when the Patriots easily defeated the Bobcats in three games in the season opener at John Linn Memorial Gym.

George Mason has yet to play a road match this season, but will now play their next six matches on the road and 10 out of their next 11 matches away from home. The Patriots will play a midweek match on Wednesday, Jan. 31 at 7 p.m. against EIVA Tait Division rival East Stroudsburg in East Stroudsburg, Pa.