Baltimore, Md. (November 20) - The Stevenson Mustangs battled through a challenging opening round of the NCAA Division III Women's Volleyball Tournament, showing resilience and flashes of momentum despite falling in straight sets to Johns Hopkins, 25-13, 25-19, 25-14, on Thursday night in Baltimore.
 
Set 1:
Stevenson opened the match with energy and effort, highlighted by early kills from Giulia Viglietta and Sydney Salazar as the Mustangs worked to settle into the postseason environment. After an initial Johns Hopkins run, Stevenson responded with key swings and a strong block from Viglietta and Logan Burge to slow the Blue Jays' attack. Though Hopkins maintained control down the stretch, the Mustangs continued to compete on every point, closing the set with determination and defensive hustle.
 
Set 2:
The second set marked Stevenson's strongest stretch of the match. Trailing early, the Mustangs rallied behind a service ace from Viglietta and timely kills by Maren Zepfel and Salazar to pull within striking distance. Allison Gaus added pressure at the service line, recording an ace and helping Stevenson trim the deficit. The Mustangs stayed aggressive at the net and on serve, but Johns Hopkins answered late to secure the frame, 25-19.
 
Set 3:
Stevenson continued to fight in the third set, with Salazar again providing offense and Gaus contributing key points to keep the Mustangs competitive. Stevenson's front line produced multiple stuffs and forced errors, while the back row showed persistence in extending rallies. Despite the final push, Hopkins closed out the match, but the Mustangs never relented, finishing their NCAA appearance with pride and heart.

 
Stevenson's postseason run came to a close, but the Mustangs ended the year with their 12th NCAA Tournament appearance, a MAC Commonwealth Championship title, and an 18-14 overall record to cap the 2025 season.