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NEWARK, NJ--No. 13 George Mason registered a 3-0 (25-14, 25-23, 25-19) sweep at NJIT Friday evening in EIVA men's volleyball action in the Highlanders home opener
inside NJIT's Wellness and Events Center.
 
The Patriots recorded its sixth sweep of the season, improving to 3-0 in the EIVA and 9-2 overall while the Highlanders fall to 0-1 in the EIVA and 4-5 on the young season.

George Mason's Hayden Wagner recorded his tenth straight match with double-digit kills (13) to lead the match while libero Will Calaman posted a match-best 11 digs.
 
NJIT had two players reach double-digit kills paced by sophomore Alvaro Gimeno with 11 kills followed by Piotr Namiotko with 10.  Senior libero Chris Wise combined for 10 kills while Gimeno added seven.
 
In front of the net, middle Luca Berger posted six total blocks (one solo, five assists) while adding four kills for the Highlanders.
 
In the first frame, the teams traded points early, with George Mason breaking a 9-9 tie and scoring six consecutive points, pushing ahead, 12-9, resulting in an NJIT timeout.  The Patriots held a 10-point cushion, 20-10 and closed out the set on a 4-0 run, taking the first set, 25-14.  George Mason finished the frame, hitting an impressive .600 on 10 kills, 1 error and 15 swings.
 
After a back-and-forth affair to begin the second set, George Mason took a 16-12 advantage on a Highlander error.  The home team used a 6-1 spurt for a one-point lead, 18-17, after block assists by Luca Berger and Piotr Namiotko.  After four ties, George Mason scored back-to-back points for a 23-21 lead, resulting in a Highlander timeout.  The Patriots secured the 25-23 win capped by a 3-1 spurt.
 
George Mason continued its momentum into the third frame, jumping out to an early 11-7 lead.  After a Highlander timeout, NJIT closed the gap to within three, 13-10, on an error by the Patriots.  George Mason scored four consecutive points, extending its lead to seven, 17-10.  After a short 3-1 run by the home team, NJIT, slimmed the lead to within five, 18-13 and later fought back to within three, 19-16, on three straight points by NJIT.  The Patriots used a timeout to regroup and scored three unanswered for a 22-16 advantage and secured the 3-0 victory with a 25-19 win.
 
NJIT will return to action on February 22 when the Highlanders visit Sacred Heart at 6pm.