George Mason Men's Volleyball Secures First EIVA Win Over Charleston

Patriots' balanced offense and strong net play lead to straight-sets victory

Published on Feb. 15, 2026

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The George Mason Men's Volleyball team earned their first Eastern Intercollegiate Volleyball Association (EIVA) win of the season, defeating Charleston in a straight-sets match at the Wehrle Innovation Center. George Mason's offense was led by four players in double-digit kills, while the team's serving and blocking efforts proved crucial in securing the victory.

Why it matters

This win marks an important milestone for the George Mason men's volleyball program, as they look to build momentum in conference play. The Patriots' ability to rebound from a previous loss against the same opponent demonstrates their resilience and adaptability, which will be key as they continue their EIVA schedule.

The details

George Mason's offense was led by Robert Evangelista with 10 kills, while Jack Lopez, Aidan Weltin, and Alexander Lillie added 9, 8, and 7 kills respectively. The Patriots also dominated at the net, out-blocking Charleston 12 to 8, with Georgi Zahariev, Elijah Lazor, and Lillie leading the blocking effort. After being held to zero aces in the previous match, George Mason erupted for 5 aces in the rematch, putting pressure on Charleston's receiving team.

  • The match took place on Saturday, February 15, 2026.
  • This victory came less than 24 hours after a loss to the same opponent on Friday.

The players

Robert Evangelista

Led George Mason with 10 kills.

Jack Lopez

Contributed 9 kills for the Patriots.

Georgi Zahariev

Led George Mason's blocking effort with 6 blocks.

Jay Hosack

Head coach of the George Mason men's volleyball team.

Charleston

George Mason's opponent, a team in the Eastern Intercollegiate Volleyball Association (EIVA).

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What they’re saying

“After last night's performance, I could not be more proud of our response today against a very good Charleston team. We refused to go down without a fight and return to our George Mason brand of volleyball.”

— Jay Hosack, Head Coach

What’s next

George Mason (6-5, 1-1 EIVA) will continue their road trip next weekend, facing EIVA opponents New Jersey Institute of Technology (NJIT) on February 20th and Fairleigh Dickinson on February 21st.

The takeaway

This victory highlights the resilience and adaptability of the George Mason men's volleyball team, as they were able to rebound from a previous loss against the same opponent and secure their first EIVA conference win of the season. The Patriots' balanced offensive attack and dominant net play were key factors in their success, and they will look to build on this momentum as they continue their conference schedule.