Charlotte, N.C. \u2013\u00a0The George Mason Men’s Volleyball team extended their current winning streak to a season-high four games after a hard-fought four set win over Queens University of Charlotte Friday night at the Levine Center.<\/p>\n
PATRIOT POINTS<\/p>\n
\nTo start off the first road trip of March, George Mason (10-6, 2-2 EIVA) had to grind through four sets with Queens University of Charlotte (6-11, 1-7 MIVA)\u00a0 on Friday night. Both offenses struggled to find their rhythm throughout the match, but the Patriots outhit the Royals .206 to .180.<\/p>\n SET 1: George Mason – 25, Queens – 19 Aidan Weltin<\/a> and Robert Evangelista<\/a> were crucial in closing the gap for the Patriots, with Evangelista landing a service ace at 13-13. The momentum shifted as George Mason capitalized on the Royals’ missteps, including an attack error by Saurer, to take the set 25-19.
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<\/p>\n END OF SET #1
SET 2:\u00a0George Mason – 20, Queens – 25 The Patriots got as close as 11-12 in the set, but the Royals rattled off a 5-0 run to separate themselves from the Patriots and eventually\u00a0ballooned to a 16-23 Queens lead.<\/p>\n Despite a brief rally by George Mason, highlighted by Weltin’s back-to-back service aces and three consecutive kills by Alexander Lillie<\/a>\u00a0that cut the deficit to 20-24, Queens held firm. Saurer’s kill from Podgorny wrapped up the set at 25-20.<\/p>\n SET 3: George Mason – 25, Queens – 20 Weltin and Evangelista consistently contributed, each recording multiple kills. Weltin’s offensive prowess maintained the lead, and Evangelista’s kill from Georgi Zahariev<\/a> capped off the set. Queens’ errors, including a crucial service error by Podgorny, bolstered the Patriots’ momentum.
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<\/p>\n END OF SET #3
SET 4: George Mason – 25, Queens – 23 Down 9-11, the Patriots went on a 10-6 run to get themselves ahead. The Royals did not go away quietly, as they would tie the set three more times at 19, 20 and 23.<\/p>\n George Mason reached match point at 24-23, and after a rally that was kept alive by the diving efforts of redshirt junior libero Robby Nardoni<\/a>, Weltin’s attack was ruled out, leveling the score. Coach Jay Hosack<\/a> challenged the call, claiming that the ball had touched the Royal back line. After a review that took a little over a minute, the officials reversed the call, giving the Patriots the point and the match.<\/p>\n COACH’S CORNER UP NEXT
\n\tThe Patriots and Royals were virtually even in every statistical category. George Mason recorded one more service ace (six to five) but the Royals had the advantage in points (58 to 61), kills (46 to 47), blocks (six to nine), assists (40 to 44) and digs (39 to 50).
\n\tSophomore pin hitter Aidan Weltin<\/a> and junior outside hitter Robert Evangelista<\/a> both shared the team high of 12 kills each as well as seven digs. Weltin also shared the game-high in service aces with four.
\n\tSophomore middle blocker Alexander Lillie<\/a>, who recorded one service ace,\u00a0had the third-most on the team with nine and the most block assists on the team with four.
\n\tSenior setter Georgi Zahariev<\/a> racked up 31 more assists as well as an\u00a0ace.
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\nThe opening set saw George Mason jump to an early lead following a service error by the Royals’ Chance Shampine. Queens fought back with Kaden Saurer leading the charge, delivering a kill and two service aces to push them ahead 6-3.<\/p>\n
\nGMU – 25?
\nQueens – 19
\nPatriots close out the first set with Evangelista hitting .571%! #GMUMVB<\/a><\/p>\n
\n\u2014 George Mason Men’s Volleyball (@GoMasonMVB) March 6, 2026<\/a><\/p>\n
\nIn the second set, the Royals gained the upper hand early, exploiting service errors from the Patriots. Saurer again played a key role, racking up multiple kills with assists from Charlie Podgorny, helping Queens stay ahead.<\/p>\n
\nGeorge Mason bounced back in the third set, never trailing and only being tied twice in the early stages. The Patriots benefited from the\u00a0Royals’\u00a0\u00a0six service errors in the period.<\/p>\n
\nGMU – 25?
\nQueens – 20
\nPatriots close out the third set with Lillie hitting .667%! #GMUMVB<\/a><\/p>\n
\n\u2014 George Mason Men’s Volleyball (@GoMasonMVB) March 7, 2026<\/a><\/p>\n
\nThe final set started with the Royals slightly ahead, but George Mason quickly leveled the score, aided by a series of Queens’ errors.<\/p>\n
\n“Even though it wasn’t our best performance, I am happy with the grit and determination to refuse to go down against a good Queens team,” said head coach Jay Hosack<\/a>.<\/p>\n
\nGeorge Mason will play their second game of their North Carolina trip tomorrow, as they will travel to Belmont to face off against Belmont Abbey at the Wheeler Center. Slated for 4 p.m., the game will be broadcast on Conference Carolinas Digital Network here<\/a> and can be followed on live stats here<\/a>.<\/p>\n