Mason men's volleyball falls to IPFW 3-1, but Heim makes Sports Center Top 10

Mason men's volleyball fell to IPFW on Saturday night, 3-1 sets (photo by Amy Rose).

The Mason men’s volleyball team lost Saturday night to the Indiana University-Purdue University of Fort Wayne Mastodons at the Recreation and Athletic Complex in Fairfax, Virginia.

It took the Mastodons four sets to defeat the Patriots. The individual sets were 25-23, 25-21, 25-23, and 25-18. Mason looked dominating in their second set win, but were unable to get anything going after that.

Mason was led by senior opposite hitter Jonathan Lutz and redshirt freshman Jack Wilson. Lutz tallied 13 kills while Wilson had eight and added three service aces. The Mastodons were led by senior opposite hitter Eddie Rivera who tallied 16 kills leading both teams in that category.  Junior setter Omar Rivera led the team with 47 assists.

Mason started the first set off quickly tallying the first three points but the Mastodons battled back and got their first tie at 9-9. The teams went back and forth until the Mastodons grabbed their first lead, 19-18. Mason head coach Fred Chao called a timeout when his team went down two, hoping to change momentum. Though, the Mastodons would not relinquish the lead as they hung on to win the first set, 25-23.

The second set started off with the two teams going back and forth, but Mason was first to grab a two point lead at 8-6. From that point on, Mason controlled the game. The Patriots lead grew to as large as six points when they went up 16-10, which prompted the Mastodons head coach Arnie Ball to call a timeout. The Mastodons pulled to within three, but Mason was able to hold on and ended up taking the set, 25-21.

The third set changed the match, as Mason got off to a great start and led by as many five when they pulled ahead, 7-2. Mason continued its dominance for the majority of the set. The highlight for the Patriots came when leading 15-12 and senior setter Joe Heim sprawled out to make a diving save that would make Sports Center Top 10 at No. 9. Mason’s lead eventually grew to 20-13. The Mastodons took the next four points after coach Chao used one of his timeouts, and the Mastodons were on a roll, but still Mason kept a slim lead. That changed when the Mastodons tied the game up at 23 and went on to win the set, 25-23.

The Mastodons took the momentum from the third set win and never looked back in set four. IPFW never trailed and opened up an eight-point lead later in the set. The Mastodons went on to win the set, 25-18.

Mason goes on the road next weekend for two games, as they head to Harvard (2-3) Friday, Feb. 14 and Sacred Heart (4-5) on Saturday, Feb. 15. 

Video courtesy of MCN