FAIRFAX, VA – The Manhattan Jaspers' Men's Volleyball program (2-7, 0-0 NEC) dropped the opening match to the Patriots of George Mason University (4-4, 0-0 EIVA) in four sets (25-20, 23-25, 21-25, 24-26) inside the Recreation Athletic Complex on Friday night.
HOW IT HAPPENED
- After trading points through the first eight, the Green and White were able to pull away with Kai Patchell and Jovan Marjanovic finding the corner of the court to post an additional two points for the insurance point.
- On the ensuing serve, Wojtek Nowak gave the Jaspers another insurance tally, before a George Mason miscue allowed the Green and White to go in front by as much as three.
- George Mason tied the match at 16 down the stretch of the first stanza, before Kasen Owens set up Patchell for the go-ahead point.
- With the Jaspers ahead by as much as three for the second time, Marjanovic gave the Green and White its third three-point edge before George Mason's miscues allowed the Jaspers to advance to a first-set win, with the final point coming off a Nowak ace.
- In the second set, with the Jaspers playing catch-up, trailing by as much as three, two miscues from the Patriots brought Manhattan back within one.
- Midway through the second set, it was the trio of Owens, Blake Perkins, and Patchell to log three straight points and leapfrog in front of George Mason for the first time in the second set.
- With the lead continuing to dissipate, the Jaspers showed their resiliency by tying the match numerous times down the stretch. With Manhattan trailing 22-20, Perkins and Owens found a way to tie the match at 22, before the Patriots evened the match at one set apiece.
- Halfway through the third set with the Jaspers trailing by as much as five, a combination of miscues and a Green and White trio pulled Manhattan within three. George Mason would then go ahead by as much as six, before the Jaspers crawled back to shrink its deficit to as little as two.
- In the fourth set, the Jaspers stormed out in front with a three-point lead, courtesy of Perkins and Patchell.
- With the Jaspers ahead 16-13, the Patriots found a way to leap ahead of the Green and White before Marjanovic tied the match at 18.
- The Jaspers continued to battle down the stretch with three straight points highlighted by a Perkins ace to knot the match at 23, but it was ultimately not enough.
STATS AND NOTES
- Wojtek Nowak paced the Green and White with 13 kills on 34 attempts, while adding two set assists, two service aces, blocking one, and recording nine digs for 15.5 points.
- Kasen Owens logged 11 kills on 29 attempts, with a team high two service aces, three blocks, and nine digs for a combined 14.5 points.
- Setter Drew Blonski supplied 41 set assists, with two kills on as many attempts, five block assists, and five digs for 4.5 points.
- Kai Patchell recorded eight kills on 16 attempts with one service ace, one block solo, seven block assists, and three digs for 13.5 points on the night.
- Jovan Marjanovic registered eight kills on 14 attempts for a team-high .571 hitting percentage, with three blocks and one dig for 10 points.
- Both Manhattan and George Mason logged six service aces throughout the match.
- Additionally, the Jaspers posted 11 blocks compared to the Patriots' ten.
- Finally, the Green and White recorded a .684 team hitting percentage with 14 kills on 19 attempts. In the second set, the Jaspers posted a .406 clip on 16 kills in 32 attempts.
NEXT UP:
The Jaspers continue in the Commonwealth tomorrow, Saturday, February 7th, to take on the Patriots of George Mason University for a 2 p.m. start from inside the Recreation Athletic Complex. The matches can be viewed on ESPN+ with a paid subscription.
Follow Manhattan Men's Volleyball on X and Instagram (@ManhattanMVBall).
