Owings Mills, Md. (February 7) — The Stevenson Mustangs turned in a strong day at home with back-to-back victories inside Owings Mills Gymnasium, defeating Neumann in four sets (26-24, 25-23, 25-11, 25-17) before sweeping Eastern Mennonite in straight sets (25-19, 26-24, 25-14).
 

Vs. Neumann

Set 1: Stevenson set the tone right away, jumping out to an early lead behind the aggressive swing of Michael Dixon and Patrick Siewert and the steady presence of at the net. The Mustangs used a balanced attack and clean passing to keep Neumann on its heels, pulling away midway through the set. Strong defensive coverage led to transition opportunities, and Stevenson capitalized to close out the opening frame, 26–24.

Set 2: Neumann answered in the second set, trading points with the Mustangs through the early stages. Stevenson stayed within striking distance thanks to kills from Ben Grove and Isaiah Thomas, while Lance Simon anchored the back row defensively. Despite a late push, Neumann strung together a short run down the stretch and edged the Mustangs, 25–23, evening the match at one set apiece.

Set 3: Stevenson responded with its most dominant stretch of the match in the third. Aden Thompson caught fire offensively, finishing at a high clip while also contributing from the service line. The Mustangs' block began to take over, shutting down Neumann's outside attack and forcing errors. With the momentum firmly on their side, Stevenson cruised through the set and reclaimed the lead with a 25–11 win.

Set 4: The fourth set was tightly contested, with both teams trading runs and neither able to gain much separation early. Sutton Scoutelas delivered several service aces in pressure moments. With the score tight in the closing points, Stevenson showed poise, executing cleanly in transition to seal the set, 25–17 and secure the match.

 
Vs. Eastern Mennonite

Set 1:
The Mustangs wasted little time finding their rhythm. A multiple of early kills from Kevin Kouchoukos  helped Stevenson open a slim advantage, while Adam Adam Sawyers directed the offense efficiently to keep Eastern Mennonite's block guessing. Midway through the frame, Stevenson pieced together a key run fueled by aggressive serving and disciplined defense, forcing attack errors and extending the lead. Kouchoukos and Daeman Odom continued to anchor the front row, and Sawyers delivered a late kill to close the door as the Mustangs secured the opener, 25–19. 

Set 2:
Momentum carried into the second as Stevenson's attack grew more balanced. Jackon Bones got involved early at the net, while Tanner Laukhuff contributed steady swings from the outside. Eastern Mennonite kept pace early, but Stevenson's defense turned several long rallies into points, sparking a mid-set surge. A pair of timely finishes from Bones and Connor Roth stretched the cushion, and the Mustangs closed the set with composure to take a 2–0 match lead, 26-24

Set 3:
Stevenson  started on a 13-3 run with no answer from the Royals. With the score narrowing late, Kouchoukos delivered another clutch swing and the Mustangs capitalized on a service run to regain separation. One finally rally sealed the set, 25–14, and completed the straight-sets victory for the Mustangs. 


Stevenson will be back in action on Friday, February 13, when the Mustangs host Southern Virginia at 8 p.m. to open the Mustang Classic, a six-team, two-day tournament in Owings Mills.