The third time is the charm.

The men's volleyball team traveled to Fairfax, Va. last night to open its Eastern Intercollegiate Volleyball Association season against George Mason and came away with a sweep, 15-6, 15-2 and 15-11. In their two previous meetings this year, it took the Lions four games to dispose of the Patriots. Not this time.

"Any time you make a statement in the EIVA, it is a big statement," assistant coach Mark Pavlik said. "Tonight's statement was that we beat them convincingly in their place."

Penn State (11-1, 1-0 EIVA) had a .433 attack percentage, hitting 54 kills in 87 swings. Outside hitter Jorge Perez paced the team with 14 kills, while outside hitters Tom Gingrich and Charlie Bertran added nine apiece. Middle blockers David Muir and Ramon Hernandez contributed eight and seven, respectively.

Hernandez was also credited with 10 digs and five blocks. Bertran had eight digs and four blocks. Perez added seven digs. Muir chipped in four blocks.

Bertran was taken out of the third game because of a twisted knee. If necessary, he should be ready for tonight's match against Navy.

Middle blocker Winfield Evens saw his first action of the season after coming off a separated shoulder. He netted two blocks, two kills and two digs.

George Mason jumped out to a 6-1 lead in the first game. After a Lion timeout, the Patriots failed to score again in Penn State's 15-6 victory. Lion dominance, established early in the match, neutralized the small, but unruly crowd. Pavlik noted a small gathering of Lion followers, which he attributed to the Penn State alumni in the region.

The lack of intensity noted in the weekend's contest against Manitoba was not a problem against the Patriots.

"We knew what we had to do. We were pretty focused," Pavlik said.

Despite three wins over the Patriots this season, Pavlik still sees George Mason as the biggest competitor in the Lions' quest for an EIVA title.

"Mason scares me the most," he said. "They have the potential to get good. We must keep our intimidation going."

On Feb. 2, Penn State overcame the Patriots in the semifinals of the Nittany Lion Invitational, 15-13, 5-15, 15-1 and 15-10. Bertran led Penn State with 17 kills. In the semifinals of the Dutch Country Classic at Elizabethtown College on Feb. 8, Penn State won 15-10, 15-7, 6-15 and 15-5.

The series with George Mason began in 1977 and has become one of Penn State's most heated rivalries. The series includes three wins last year in the Lions' 20-12 season. Penn State holds a 40-10 advantage lifetime.

From here the Lions will travel to Annapolis, Md. to face No. 17 Navy tonight. Penn State swept the Midshipmen this weekend in the semifinals of a four-team tournament, 15-5, 16-14 and 15-8. The win upped Penn State's lifetime record against Navy to 15-0, since the series began in 1985.

In the match, setter Scott Miller and Gingrich were sidelined with the flu. Sophomore outside hitter Ricky Roper stepped in and led the Lions with 11 kills. Bertran and Muir added ten each. Hernandez and freshman outside hitter Ed Josefoski added nine apiece.

The Lions will face a stiff test from Navy at home. Most of their offense comes from the outside. Penn State is not going to change its winning strategy from last Friday's match, however.

"We are going to show them the same look and say beat us if you can," Pavlik said. "We are going to try to rush them or make them feel uncomfortable going from one spot to another."

Previous to last weekend, the last time Penn State faced Navy was on Apr. 20, 1990 in the semifinals of the EIVA Championships. In that match, the Lions won in four, 15-8, 15-10, 16-17 and 15-11.

Navy recently defeated George Mason in Annapolis.

The EIVA matches against George Mason and Navy are a precursor to the team's annual road trip during spring break to the west coast.

"We are looking forward to meeting the challenges in front of us," Pavlik said.