Feb. 10, 2006

Box Score

NEWARK, N.J. - Redshirt senior opposite hitter Shaun Powell (Toronto, Canada/Francis Libermann) had 17 kills and freshman outside hitter Kyle Gramit (Naperville, Ill./Naperville North) added 16 as No. 15 George Mason rolled to a three-games-to-zero EIVA Tait win, its first conference victory of the season, over Rutgers-Newark in The Golden Dome in Newark, N.J.

The Patriots (10-2, EIVA Tait 1-0) survived a slow start to post a 30-28, 30-21, 30-24 win over the Scarlet Raiders (4-7, EIVA Tait 1-1).

In game one, Mason trailed 25-22 before a kill by middle blocker Matt Steinfurth (Portsmouth, Va./Woodrow Wilson) followed by back-to-back attack errors by Rutgers-Newark evened the score. Later in the game, with the score tied at 28, a Powell kill and a Scarlet Raiders' attack error gave the Patriots a 30-28 victory. Steinfurth hit .500 for the night, getting eight kills with just one error on 14 swings, while leading Mason to a 13.0-10.5 edge in blocking with two solo blocks and five assists.

In game two, Powell hammered down eight kills and Gramit had seven as the Patriots hit a sizzling .441 (19 kills, four errors, 34 attacks) to take control of the match.

In game three, the Patriot attack cooled off but the team posted five blocks while the hosts hit just .029 (9 kills, 8 errors, 34 attacks).

Hudson Bates finished with nine kills and a pair of assisted blocks for Mason while redshirt senior setter Bryan Newcomb (Richmond, Va./Atlee) collected 44 assists. The Patriots out hit the Scarlet Raiders .286 to .079.

Mason's next match is scheduled for Friday, Feb. 17 at Princeton at 7 p.m.