Feb. 16, 2008

Box Score

NEWARK, N.J. - Junior opposite hitter Kyle Gramit recorded a match-high 18 kills as the thirteenth-ranked Patriots defeated NJIT 3-0, en route to an Eastern Intercollegiate Volleyball Association (EIVA) Tait Division victory Saturday night at the Estelle and Zoom Fleisher Athletic Center in Newark, N.J.

The Patriots hit .263 over three games compared to .083 for the Highlanders, taking a 33-31, 30-22, 30-28 win to improve to 7-4 overall and 2-2 in the Tait Division. The Highlanders fall to 5-3 overall and 1-2 in conference matches following the loss.

Games one and three played out in a similar pattern, with the score tied on several occasions. In both instances, it was when the score was in the mid-20s that the Patriots seemed to have the extra push to take control and emerge with the win.

Junior Hudson Bates was the only other Patriot to post double figures in the kills' category, ending the night with 17 kills. Sophomore setter Ryan Kwiatkowski recorded a match-high 41 assists. Kwiatkowski led Mason with nine total blocks, while senior R.J. Goubeaux posted eight block assists.

Eduardo Welter led the Highlanders with 16 kills and four digs while Leonardo Paludo finished the match with 12 kills and six digs. Defensively for NJIT, Amobi Armstrong posted a match-high nine digs.

George Mason returns to action next weekend at the Volleyball Hall of Fame Morgan Classic Tournament in Springfield, Mass. The Patriots begin the two-day tournament with a match against No. 11 IPFW on Friday, Feb. 22 at 5 p.m.