Women's volleyball plays strong at the net in win over OUAZ

Madi Fay believes the Mustangs are in familiar territory.

"I think it's like deja vu from the beginning of last year," said Fay, a junior opposite. "We were the underdogs and no one had any expectations for us, which is where we like to be – with our backs against the wall."

The Master's University women's volleyball team will not repeat as Golden State Athletic Conference regular season champions. But, in Friday's 3-0 win over Ottawa University Arizona inside the MacArthur Center, the Mustangs showed a level of hunger and determination reminiscent of that 2018 bunch.  

Back then, Master's was coming off a losing season and few predicted a seismic turnaround. But, the Mustangs won their first nine matches and went on to claim the program's first-ever GSAC regular season and tournament titles.

Now in fifth place, and outside the GSAC regular season title conversation, Master's hopes to take opponents by surprise in next week's conference tournament (hosted by the GSAC champion, which is still to be decided).

The Mustangs (17-11, 11-6 GSAC) will want to continue playing like they did Friday.

Rebecca Swenning led TMU with nine kills and one error, and Jane Cisar added eight kills and six total blocks. The Mustangs compiled 20 total blocks collectively on a night the team executed the game plan at the net over and over.

At one juncture in the night's opening set, Fay and Emily Scott teamed up for three blocks in a seven-point span.

"We spent a lot of time this week working on our block because that's something we haven't been as strong at this season," Fay said. "So we were really just trying to make sure we feel our hands touching (with the middle blocker), that we're closing the block and watching the steps the hitter is taking coming in."

Head coach Allan Vince approved. "There were no holes," he said.

Fay finished with five kills and six total blocks. Katie Emmerling and Emily Scott each had four blocks, and Emmerling added 26 assists, feeding the ball to Mustang hitters who swung .227 for the night. Regan Tate had six kills.

Master's will play Arizona Christian on Saturday at TMU. First serve is at 2 p.m.

"We're going to come in with the same energy and intensity and finish the regular season strong," Fay said.