Box Score IRVINE, Calif. – No. 5 UC Irvine used a dominant performance at the net to sweep George Mason 3-0 (25-21, 25-20, 25-23) in a non-conference match Tuesday at the Bren Events Center.

The Anteaters out-blocked the Patriots 14.5 to 2, the second most blocks in a match this season for UCI. Scott Stadick had a team-high 10 total blocks, while  Austin Wilmot, Karl Apfelbach and Joel Schneidmiller each added four blocks.

UCI (14-5) was led offensively by Apfelbach with 16 kills, hitting .433 (16-3-30). Aaron Koubi hit .538 with seven kills on 13 attempts and no errors. Stadick also pitched in six kills. Dante Chakravorti dished 35 set assists, while David Parker had a team-high seven digs.

George Mason (10-10) was led by Hayden Wagner with 16 kills and Kyle Barnes with eight kills. Johnny Gomez had a match-high 10 digs.

With the score tied at 16 all, UCI used a kill by Joel Schneidmiller and a George Mason attack error to take an 18-16 lead in the first set. The Anteaters would not relinquish the lead winning the set 25-21 on an Aaron Koubi kill.

The teams were close in the second set as well until a pair of Scott Stadick kills plus a Patriot attack error gave the Anteaters a 20-17 lead. A Stadick solo block would give UCI the 25-20 victory. The Anteaters had five blocks in the
set.

At 8-8 in the third set, UCI would go on a 6-1 run, started with a kill by JB Kam and capped by a Koubi kill to move out to a 14-9 lead. George Mason would catch UCI at 18-18, but Apfelbach would stop the momentum with back-to-back kills and a block, 21-18. The Patriots would not go away tying the set again at 23-23. Once again Apfelbach answered with a kill then watched a Mason attack sail wide to give the Anteaters the 25-23 win.

The Anteaters return to Big West action, hosting UC San Diego Thursday (Mar. 15) at 7:00 p.m. at the Bren Events Center.