FAIRFAX, Va. – The Saint Francis men's volleyball team is set to begin a four-match road trip, starting this weekend in Virginia with two matchups against No. 13 George Mason.
The Red Flash will look to knock off a ranked opponent and get back in the win column against the Patriots.
THE MATCHUP: Saint Francis (1-10, 0-4) vs. No. 13 George Mason (5-1, 2-0)
Location: Recreation Athletic Complex (Fairfax, Va.)
Date and Time: Friday, Feb. 19 – 7:00 p.m.
Saturday, Feb. 20 – 7:00 p.m.
Watch: ESPN+ (Friday) (Saturday)
Live Stats: Sidearm Stats
SCOUTING THE PATRIOTS
George Mason, who sits at No. 13, has been in the Top 15 all season, reaching as high as 12. The Patriots also sit atop the EIVA standings at 2-0, the last undefeated team in league play. After beginning the season 1-1 with a split against Ball State, George Mason has rattled off four straight wins, one against Southern Virginia, one against Barton, and two against Charleston. Three of five Mason wins have come via sweep, with two five-set wins and a four-set loss.
The Patriots are led by five players with over 40 kills, including team leader Sam Greenslade, who has registered 57, and Omar Hoyos, who has added 51. Passing for Mason is Zach Talamoa, who has registered 190 of 281 team assists. The Patriots' Hayden Wagner leads the EIVA with 0.91 aces per set. On defense, Brad Creamer leads with five solo blocks and 20 block assists, and Creamer and Jack Reese sit at two in the conference at 1.05 blocks per set.
SERIES HISTORY
George Mason leads the all-time series, 37-17. The Red Flash is 2-1 against the Patriots in the last three matches, including a two-game sweep in 2019. Last season, Mason defeated the Red Flash in Loretto, 3-1. Michael Fisher led the match with 22 kills, with AJ Schmidt adding 11.
LAST TIME OUT
Last weekend, the Red Flash dropped both matches to Charleston in Loretto, 3-2 and 3-0. In the five-set match, SFU led 2-1 before an 18-16 loss in the fifth set. That was the fifth five-set match of the season for the Red Flash, tying the amount played last year. SFU now holds a record of 0-5 in these matches.
EIVA INDIVIDUAL RANKINGS
Currently, Michael Fisher leads the EIVA in total kills with 85, with Joshua Blair sitting in fourth at 76. Zac Cabral is third in the league in hitting percentage at .410. Roman Szwabinsky is averaging 8.55 assists per set, putting him in fifth. Defensively, Szwabinsky and Blair sit first and second in the league with 24 and 23 total blocks, and Cabral is fourth in blocks per set with 0.96.
RED FLASH STATISTICAL LEADERS
KILLS – Michael Fisher (3.55/set)
ASST – Roman Szwabinsky (8.55/set)
DIGS – AJ Schmidt (1.46/set)
TOTAL BLOCKS – Thomas Leahey, Brandon Dunz (1.00/set)
SERVICE ACES – Jason Najm (0.38/set)
NEXT UP
Following this weekend, the Red Flash will play two more matches on the road, traveling to Newark, N.J. to take on No. 15 NJIT. Matches are set for Friday, Feb. 26 at 7:00 p.m. and Saturday, Feb. 27 at 5:00 p.m. Broadcast information will be available in the coming week.
Follow Saint Francis Men's Volleyball on Twitter and Instagram to get up-to-date information and a behind-the-scenes look at the Red Flash.
To learn more about Saint Francis University, visit francis.edu.
