Feb. 26, 2008

FAIRFAX, Va. - The George Mason men's volleyball team returns home Wednesday night to take on the Scarlet Raiders of Rutgers-Newark. Mason is currently ranked 11th in the CBS College Sports Network/AVCA Division I-II Men's Top 15 Coaches Poll after nearly capturing the Volleyball Hall of Fame Morgan Classic Tournament title this past weekend.

Playing at Blake Arena in Springfield, Mass., the Patriots beat then-No. 12 IPFW on Friday to reach the championship match of the tournament against No. 8 USC. Mason lost a close five-game decision to the Trojans, 3-2, falling by a score of 16-14 in a hard-fought final game. The Patriots enter Wednesday's match with an overall record of 8-5 this season.

Rutgers-Newark enters the match with an overall record of 4-9 in 2008. After beginning the season with two wins in their first three matches, the Scarlet Raiders have dropped eight of their past 10. Sophomore outside hitter Nate Stott has been the team's most consistent offensive performer this season, leading the team in kills with 178 (4.14 per game).

Tickets to Wednesday's match will cost $5 for adults and $2 for youth and senior citizens. All full-time enrolled students at George Mason University will be admitted free with a valid Mason student ID.