OWINGS MILLS, Md. – The Stevenson University men's volleyball team gave everything it had against 17^th-ranked Messiah in a five-set slugfest before the Falcons (13-6, 4-0 Middle Atlantic Conference) handed the Mustangs (9-5, 1-1 MAC) a 3-2 setback on Wednesday night.
 
Set scores were 25-21, 16-25, 25-23, 21-25 and 15-13 in the two-hour plus match.
 
The Mustangs were led by Tim Flanagan who had 19 kills, four aces and ten digs, while Anthony Pezzino had 13 kills, two aces and nine digs.
 
Ryan Thenell had four blocks, with Elliot De La Torre netting three and Aidan O'Brien having two.
 
Justin Novoas had 48 assists on 55 kills for the Mustangs, who hit .232 in the match.
 
Thenell had ten kills, with O'Brien getting eight kills as well.
 
After dropping the first set 25-21, Stevenson took the second set 25-16, pulling away with a 4-0 midway through the set to go up 18-11. The Mustangs rallied in the third set, getting to within one at 24-23 before the Falcons took set three, 25-23.
 
In the fourth, the two teams tied several times before Stevenson got kills from Flanagan and a service ace from Micah Ernst to go up 23-19 and take set four 25-21.
 
In the fifth and deciding set, Messiah held the lead all the way through, with Stevenson getting to within one at 12-11, 13-12 and 14-13 but could get grab the lead.
 
Stevenson heads to Stevens on Saturday for a tri-match with the Ducks and Lasell.