Fairfax, VA – The duo of Michael Saeta and David Parker had career-highs to lead No. 14 UC Irvine to a 3-2 (25-20, 18-25, 25-21, 24-26, 15-10) victory over George Mason at the RAC Tuesday.

UCI is 8-15 overall and is now 4-3 in five set matches this season. George Mason is 9-11 overall.

Saeta tied his career-high with 24 kills, while Parker posted 14 kills and career-high 18 digs. Parker's 18 digs were the most by an Anteater since Michael Brinkley had 19 versus UC Santa Barbara on April 8, 2015. Saeta also had a match-high four aces. Jason Agopian added six kills, while Thomas Hodges had five kills and Andrew Benz totaled five total blocks.

George Mason was led by Jake Wilson's match-high 25 kills. Christian Malias had nine kills and 12 digs.

UCI took control of the first set with six straight points which included two kills by Michael Saeta, a block by David Parker and Andrew Benz and an ace by Thomas Hodges, 15-9. UCI would go up 19-12 before George Mason scored four in a row to close to 19-16, but a Patriot service error stopped the momentum. A kill by Parker gave UCI a 25-20 victory. George Mason hurt themselves with seven service errors.

Five George Mason kills plus an ace helped the Patriots jump out to 6-1 lead in the second set. George Mason never lost control winning the set 25-18.

Consecutive aces by Saeta gave UCI an early 8-6 cushion in the third set. A kill by Parker put the Anteaters up 18-15, but George Mason would rally to tie the set at 19-19 on an ace. UCI would then peel off four points to take the 23-19 advantage. A block by Benz and Saeta gave UCI set point and after a one-point delay, the Anteaters won 25-21. Parker recorded six kills in the set.

The Patriots would hold a 16-13 lead in the fourth set before UCI used two George Mason miscues and a kill by Jason Agopian to knot the score at 16-16. Following a GM timeout, Saeta fired an ace to give the Anteaters the 17-16 lead. It was short lived as the teams would be tied four times before George Mason would record back to back kills by Jake Wilson to take a 23-21 lead.  A kill and an ace by Saeta tied the set at 24-24, but George Mason would record a kill and a block to force a fifth set, 26-24.

A block by Benz and Thomas Hodges sparked a 4-0 spurt to build a 10-6 lead in the fifth set for the Anteaters. A kill by Saeta was the match winner, 15-10.

After playing three matches in three days, UCI will now fly across the country to Honolulu and face Hawaii Friday and Saturday (Mar. 25-26). Matches start at 10:00 p.m. Pacific.