Owings Mills, Md. – Stevenson men's volleyball (7-6) fell 3-to eleventh-ranked Marymount (Va.) (14-1) in four sets despite double-digit kills from seniors Tanner Stauffer and Aleks Melbardis Saturday evening at Owings Mills Gymnsasium. Set Scores were 22-25, 25-12, 25-12 and 25-22.

Stevenson, who is receiving votes in the most recent AVCA Top 15 Poll, used an early first set surge to command a 6-1 lead following kills from Stauffer and Elliot De La Torre. The six-point streak also included an ace from Stauffer. 

The saints responded quickly, using their own six-point run to take a one-point advantage at the 8-7 mark. However, the Mustangs added kills from Melbardis and Aiden O'Brien to regain the lead. 

After Marymount notched the set at nine points a-piece, a crafty kill from Doug Hines followed by a block from O'Brien and Stauffer gave Stevenson the lead and momentum. 

The Mustangs carried the momentum throughout the rest of the set and did not allow Marymount to string more than two points together. Michael Dougherty picked up an ace for Stevenson to leverage a 19-21 lead. 

Marymount narrowed the Stevenson advantage at the 22-23 mark but kills from Stauffer and Tim Flanagan gave the first set to the Mustangs with a set score of 22-25.

Stevenson, unfortunately, could not carry the momentum into the second set falling to an early deficit and never stringing a pair of points together. The Mustangs dropped the second set 25-12.

The third set began similarly to the second with Marymount surging to a 7-3 lead before a Brian Farrell ace brought Stevenson within 3 points. The saints responded with a three-point run to open an 11-4 advantage. 

De La Torre added a kill to bring the set score to 17-10 in favor of the Saints. Marymount embarked on a five-point run to a 22-10 advantage before a Stauffer kill halted the surge. The Saints took the third frame with a set score of 25-12.

The fourth set was tightly contested, never being separated by more than two points before Stevenson could mount a four-point streak and nab a 7-11 advantage on the backs of a block from De La Torre and Melbardis and capped by a Justin Novoa ace. 

Marymount chipped away at the Mustang lead, eventually notching the match at 14-14. The Mustangs and Saints weathered through four more ties and three lead changes before Marymount could string together three points for a 24-21 advantage. Melbardis added one more kill for the Mustangs but eventually dropped the final frame 25-22.

Numbers and Notes

• Aleks Melbardis finished with 13 kills while Tanner Staffer notched 14. The second time the duo have each recorded double-digit kills in the same match (vs #8 SUNY New Paltz).
• Doug Hines added 26 assists, the second most in his career (27 vs Dominican).
• Four Mustangs added aces (Justin Novoa, Michael Dougherty, Tanner Stauffer and Brian Farrel).

What's Next

The Mustangs next match will be Friday, February 25 when they host Rutgers-Newark at 7pm at Owings Mills Gymnasium.