IRVINE, Calif. – UC Irvine took down George Mason 3-1 (25-21, 23-25, 25-21, 25-17) in a non-conference contest Saturday night.

UCI was dominate at the net, tying a season-high with 15.5 blocks. Middle blocker Doug Dahm tied his career-best with eight total blocks (1 solo, 7 assisted).

The Anteaters were also impressive from the service line, recording 10 aces, the second most this season.

Outside hitter Francesco Sani had a career-high four aces and shared the team lead in kills with freshman Hilir Henno, each posting 15. Sani also had seven digs and three block assists.

The Anteaters won their third straight at the Bren Events Center and improved to 8-9 overall. George Mason goes to 7-9 on the year.

INSIDE THE NUMBERS
>Outside hitter Cole Gillis had a team-best eight digs to go with nine kills and four block assists
>Middle blocker Connor Campbell added five blocks, and two kills
>Setter Patrick Vorenkamp totaled 41 set assists, five digs and five block assists
>George Mason was led by Richie Hoff's 13 kills

FIRST SET
>UCI used a pair of George Mason errors to move in front 4-2
>With the score tied at 13-13, UCI scored on three Patriot attack errors and kills by Hilir Henno and Francesco Sani, 18-13          
>A 3-1 run by George Mason keep it close, 19-23
>UCI would win the set on a Patriot service error, 25-21
>Neither offense was clicking as UCI hit .179 and George Mason .081

SECOND SET
>The Patriots led 16-14 before UCI had a kill by Sani and three consecutive errors to help the Anteaters move in front 18-16
>George Mason then out-scored UCI 8-3 to hold set point 24-21
>UCI had 5.5 blocks in the set, but it wasn't enough as the Patriots would win 25-23

THIRD SET
>A kill by Cole Gillis, an ace by Doug Dahm and a block by Henno and Connor Campbell, another kill by Gillis and an ace by Henno, put the Anteaters up 7-3
>The Patriots responded with the next three points, 7-6
>George Mason crept to 18-17 then two Sani kills and one by Henno regained control, 21-17
>Henno had the set-winner, 25-21

FOURTH SET
>A 7-1 spurt by the Anteaters which included a Henno ace, a Sani explosive kill and a triple block by Campbell, Patrick Vorenkamp and Gillis moved the advantage 10-4
>Sani then stepped back to the line and crushed three straight serves for aces, 17-10
>A service error ended the match, 25-17

HEAD COACH DAVID KNIFFIN SAID
"When we designed the schedule for this season, we wanted to feel what it would be like to play three matches if we were in that situation at the Big West Tournament. I think we learned a lot this week, we know we can hang with the No. 2 team in the country and we know our bodies will feel good after three days of volleyball."

NOTES
>Opposite Alexandre Nsakanda added a block assist in the win
>The Anteaters have won five of their last six matches
>This is UCI's final non-conference match of the regular season

UP NEXT
>UCI will take the week off for final exams and resume Big West Conference action March 25 at UC San Diego.