WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW
>>Saint Francis University men's volleyball is set for their fourth matchup against a ranked opponent this season at No. 17 George Mason Saturday, March 2 at 5.
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THE WORD ON GEORGE MASON
George Mason is currently 6-6 on the season, including two wins over then-No. 3 UC Irvine Jan. 9 and No. 17 CSUN Jan. 6. Against two Northeast Conference opponents in Sacred Heart and FDU, the Patriots took two straight set wins over both of them.
Omar Hoyos leads George Mason with 131 kills and 78 digs. Jack Bolz(115) and Liam French(110) also have recorded 100+ kills for the Patriots. Troy McDonald(337) and Georgi Zahariev(120) dish out the assists for the offense.
On defense, French leads the team in blocks with 78.
LAST TIME WE FACED THE PATRIOTS
Saint Francis last met the Patriots during the 2022 season, their last season in the Eastern Intercollegiate Volleyball Association before moving to the NEC in 2023. The teams split the season series, with the Red Flash claiming a 3-0 sweep on Feb. 4, 2022.
The former EIVA foes will face off against one another for the 63rd time. The Red Flash will be looking for their 19th win in the series.
LAST TIME OUT
Saint Francis is currently 9-5 overall and 4-0 in the Northeast Conference. They extended their winning streak to six after sweeping the season series against Sacred Heart last weekend by scores of 3-1 and 3-0. Their second match Saturday night saw the squad tally 15 service aces, the most since recording 14 against Charleston (Wv.) on March 19, 2021.
Peyton Blain earned his second First Point NEC Defensive Player of the Week and sixth NEC Prime Performer selection of the season after registering 20 digs and leading a Red Flash defense that held the Pioneers' offense to hitting percentages of .179 and .192. Nathan Zini received his fifth NEC Prime Performer selection after posting 25 kills, 13 digs, seven service aces, two blocks. He had a game-high five aces Friday night.
Zini leads the Saint Francis offense in kills with 177.
Three players lead the NEC in statistical categories. Ryan Parker leads with 481 assists, Blain with 150 digs, and Zini with 34 service aces.
Parker also leads the team in blocks with 38. The senior setter sits at 1,873 assists, 127 away from reaching 2,000 for a career.
UP NEXT
Men's Volleyball will travel to Fort Valley, GA for two matches against Edward Waters and Fort Valley State March 5-6. It will be the final matches of a 10-game away schedule before returning home on March 11.
