Box Score 1 |
Box Score 2
GRANTHAM, Pa. -- The third seeded and 12th ranked Stevenson men's volleyball team (20-10, 10-4 MAC) fell in the MAC Championship Semifinal to second seeded and 13th ranked Messiah (20-5, 12-2 MAC). The Mustangs took the opening set but ultimately fell 3-1 with set scores of 30-28, 22-25, 19-25 and 17-25.
The first set between the two top-15 teams was as tightly contested as expected. The two sides battled through 20 tie scores and 4 lead changes before deciding a victor in the frame which required extra points.
The Mustangs took a 6-5 advantage on a kill by
Tim Flanagan before Messiah would take the next two points to take a 6-7 lead. Messiah would extend the lead to 11-14 on a kill from Matt Knab, the largest margin held by either team in the set.
As the teams continued trading points, Messiah would regain the lead at the 25-26 before a pair of Flanagan kills returned the lead to Stevenson at 27-26. The teams battled through one more tie at the 28-28 point before a service error and block from
Justin Novoa sealed the set for the Mustangs at 30-28.
The Falcons jumped to a 5-13 lead in the second set before the Mustang would chip away to with a 6-1 run to an 11-14 deficit. De La Torre added a kill during the run while Melbardis sent home an ace. Messiah leveraged a 13-18 advantage before Stevenson hauled another 6-1 run to notch the set at 19 a-piece.
The two sides battled through side outs before Messiah could break the trend with a 21-23 advantage.
Tim Flanagan sent down one more kill for the Mustangs but Messiah took the final two points of the set, winning the frame at 22-25.
In the third set, Stevenson took a slight lead at 9-7 with a kill from
Aidan O'Brien. Messiah responded with a three-point rally to take a slight edge at 10-11. The sides continued battling through two more tie scores to the 13-13 point.
The Falcons would embark on a 7-1 run to leverage a 14-20 lead before
Tanner Stauffer could halt the momentum with a kill.
Aidan O'Brien notched one more kill for the Mustangs as Messiah took the third set 19-25.
In the fourth set, Messiah screamed to a 4-12 lead before
Aleks Melbardis halted the momentum briefly. Messiah leveraged a 9-17 advantage before
Aidan O'Brien notched a kill.
Messiah continued command of the frame through the 13-22 point when
Tanner Stauffer sent home a kill to move the set to 14-22. The Mustangs chipped away at the Falcon lead but Messiah ultimately took the set 17-25.
Numbers and Notes
- Stevenson notched 16 block assists.
- Elliot De La Torre seven kills and lead the Mustangs with six block assists.
- Tanner Stauffer notched 11 kills and seven digs, leading the team in both categories.
