FAIRFAX, Va. --- The Tusculum University men's volleyball team stayed competitive against a nationally-ranked George Mason on Friday (Mar. 22) night.

The Pioneers (6-17) fell to the Patriots (12-7) by scores of 25-15, 25-18, 25-18.

Omar Hoyos registered 10 kills on a .563 hitting percentage to lead GMU to victory, ahead of nine strikes by Jack Bolz. Georgi Zahariev dished out 31 assists as Hoyos finished with a match-high five service aces. Defensively, Bolz took part in three blocks, while Paul Wyszynski collected seven digs.

Deklan Wingo led the TU attack with 10 kills on a .316 clip, joined by nine kills from Colby Landry. Adam Svendsen (5), Morgan Makovec (4), Jaden Bramhall (1), and Tristan Blake (1) recorded the remaining kills. Blake distributed 28 assists as Wingo net both Pioneer aces. The latter tallied a match-high eight digs. Makovec was credited with a pair of solo blocks at the net.

George Mason hit .403 as a team with 38 kills and nine attack errors on 72 total attempts. Tusculum hit .206 with 30 kills, 16 errors, and 68 total attacks. The Patriots led the Pioneers in assists (35-30), service aces (11-2), and digs (20-19), while the teams tied with five total blocks apiece.

Tusculum finishes out the two-match series at No. 17 George Mason on Saturday (Mar. 23) at 5 p.m.