The Mustangs had heard whispers around campus, in classrooms and in the cafeteria, that Friday night's match against UC Merced had become something of a hot-ticket item.
So, it did not come as a total surprise that enough fans to fill one side of the bleachers and most of the other came out to watch The Master's University men's volleyball team play its first-ever match.
Sheer numbers, however, could not convey the enthusiasm and rapt attention displayed by those in attendance – excitement that did not wane even after UC Merced completed a hard-fought 3-0 sweep of its host, by scores of 25-17, 31-29 and 25-23.
After the match ended and the teams shook hands, the crowd remained on its feet, cheering a strong debut showing.
"The crowd didn't know what they were coming to watch," said Master's head coach
Allan Vince. "I thought the guys pleasantly surprised them with the power and excitement of men's volleyball. That's what got the fans going. They saw sheer power and intensity, separated by a thin net."
Brandon Botdorf had 11 kills to lead Master's, which pushed the Bobcats (4-4) in two of the three sets before falling. Service errors, of which the Mustangs made 21, proved to be TMU's undoing. Â
Still, Botdorf said he was blown away by TMU's fans.
"It was electric. I felt like I could jump 10 feet higher because of everyone's support," he said.
TMU's
Ezra Moore tallied a match-high 33 assists.
Christjan Tallara added 10 kills andÂ
Brett Norkus had nine for Master's, which overcame a late four-point deficit in set two to pull even at 23. The score was tied six more times – each attack and dig met with collective oohs and aahs – before a setting error and a Trevor Jurlina kill gave the Bobcats the win.
During a timeout with the score at 29-all, the crowd chanted "T-M-U," then howled along to "Seven Nation Army" by The White Stripes. Â
"I couldn't even hear the players in the huddle," Botdorf said. "It was insane."
But not unexpected. Tallara said Master's has felt like one big family, so he knew that all the students would show support for its newest program.
He also said the Mustangs did not place any expectations on themselves as far as performance entering the night. But he added that men's volleyball wants to be part of the school's strong legacy in athletics.
"We definitely want to be one of those teams," he said. "We want to train hard and try to compete with the best."
The Mustangs will welcome one of the best to TMU on Saturday when No. 8 Menlo College visits at 1 p.m. in another Golden State Athletic Conference contest. The Oaks (8-0) beat CSUN in an exhibition match Friday.Â
TMU's focus will be simple: accurate serves.
"Every time we started getting some momentum, it got shut down at the service line," Vince said. "So one of our goals is we have to win at the service line."
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