Mustangs make it two GSAC sweeps in a row with win over Ottawa

The Master's University women's volleyball team completed a quick trip to Arizona in dominant fashion Saturday afternoon, sweeping host Ottawa 25-22, 25-17, and 25-17.
 
The 3-0 victory for the Mustangs (6-5 overall, 2-0 GSAC) was their third in a row and their fifth of the season.
 
"Consistency has been our main focus this trip," said TMU head coach Allan Vince.  "Can we produce the same opportunities for success despite changes in circumstance or strategy?"
 
Whatever those circumstances were on Saturday, the Mustangs responded in kind, especially in the first set.
 
The Mustangs came back from a 5-1 deficit in the first set to take a 12-10 lead, led by as many as five points (20-15), and then ripped off the final four points of the set to rally for the victory.
 
Junior opposite Madi Fay fueled the late rally with a kill that evened the set at 22-all.  Freshman Karli Stults' ace snapped the deadlock, senior outside hitter Regan Tate followed with a kill, and blocks by Tate and senior middle blocker Jane Cisar nailed down the win.
 
Fay led all players on the afternoon with 12 kills and 27 total attacks.
 
That late first-set momentum carried over into set two as the Mustangs scored five of the first six points and led by as many as 14 points (24-10) before taking their foot off the pedal.
 
After the Spirit scored seven straight points to get within 24-17, Cisar clinched the victory with a kill.
 
Cisar finished with nine kills.
 
The Mustangs fell behind early in the third set but rallied with five straight points to gain their first lead at 9-8 on a Spirit attack error.
 
They never trailed again but Ottawa stayed in the fight, tying the set at nine-all and 10-all.
 
Following that tie, sophomore middle blocker Emily Scott and sophomore outside hitter Emilye Grace Williams sandwiched kills around an ace by senior libero/defensive specialist Mackenzie Delo to put the Mustangs ahead for good, 13-10.
 
Junior setter/opposite Katie Emmerling assisted on the two kills and notched a match-high 35 assists.
 
The Spirit had one last gasp left, drawing within 14-13, but the Mustangs outscored Ottawa 11-4 down the stretch and cruised to the win.
 
Emmerling assisted on six of those points.
 
After playing their last six matches on the road, the Mustangs return home Tuesday evening to host the University of Saint Katherine on Bross Court at 5:00pm.