The Master's University women's volleyball team's season ended Friday in the quarterfinals of the Golden State Athletic Conference tournament.
As the Mustangs prepared for the return trip from Atherton, California, to Santa Clarita, senior
Regan Tate said she hoped fans would remember the team not for its 3-0 loss to Hope International, but for the enthusiasm and chemistry it displayed on and off the court.
"Despite wins and losses, we always came together, supported one another and tried to bring glory and honor to God in the process," said Tate.
Master's finished the year 18-12. It was the eighth time in the last nine years the program finished with at least 18 wins. In Friday's loss,
Katie Emmerling became the third player in TMU history to surpass 1,000 assists in a season. The 34 she produced on this night pushed her season total to 1,030 – 43 off Aubrey Bekendam's program record.
Tate led the Mustangs with 12 kills, and
Emily Scott added 11 for Master's, which started strong, nearly winning the night's first set before struggling on the attack for the rest of the evening.
Master's – which won last year's GSAC tournament – hit .220 in set one, where it built a 26-25 advantage after
Madi Fay and
Jane Cisar combined on a block. But the Royals scored the frame's final three points – on a kill, an ace and a Master's error – and the Mustangs never fully recovered.
They did, however, construct a 20-15 lead in the third set. But again, Hope had all the answers.
The Royals scored 10 of the match's final 12 points to advance to Saturday's GSAC semifinals.
The Royals will play No. 1 seed, and host, Menlo College at 11 a.m.
Hope used an airtight defense to stop the Mustangs. The Royals tallied 16 blocks and 61 digs, and the Mustangs hit under .100 in the final two sets.
"Hope defended us well," said TMU head coach
Allan Vince, "and we weren't able to adapt."
Vince, however, was proud that his team remained "tight-knit" throughout match – and the season.
"I'm very thankful for the season we had through its ups and downs," he said.
One high came earlier this week when Tate, Cisar and Emmerling were named to the All-GSAC team, and
Annett Davis was named GSAC Assistant Coach of the Year.
The Mustangs also beat then-No. 21 Vanguard on the road in a five-set thriller and took down then No. 17-Westmont at TMU.
When it comes to reflecting on the year, Tate said she will remember her teammates more than anything.
"The relationships I've built over the years and especially this season are going to last me a very long time," she said. "I love each and every one of my teammates like a sister."
