Mustangs' comeback bid against Royals falls short

TMU Women's Volleyball won the third set on Friday night in an attempt to mount a comeback against Hope International, but the Royals bounced back to win the fourth set and win the closely-contested GSAC match by set scores of 25-19, 25-22, 23-25, 25-20.
 
Three different Mustangs recorded kills in the early going to put Master's ahead 5-4, before Hope International responded with seven-straight points to take a commanding lead which TMU was unable to overcome.
 
Master's seemed likely to win the second set and even the match, leading throughout by as many as five points. With the Mustangs holding a 19-15 advantage, the Royals went on a 9-0 run to go ahead by five. Three Hope errors brought TMU back to within two, but a Royal kill put the home side up two-sets-to-none.
 
The Mustangs got a set back in the third, limiting Hope International to a -.065 attack %. The Royals looked destined for a sweep, taking a 6-0 lead in the third, before TMU responded with six-straight points of its own. The home team subsequently went on a 4-0 run, only for the visitors to answer right back with four-consecutive points and tie the set at 10 apiece.
 
Two Emilye Grace Williams kills keyed a 6-0 Master's streak that put TMU ahead, 16-12, with the Mustangs then extending their lead to as many as five. Hope International saved two set points to get to within one, but Faith Tarver finished off the set with a kill to force a fourth set.
 
To begin the fifth, the Royals took an immediate 3-0 lead, but two Cora Machado kills helped Master's answer right back with five-straight points. The Mustangs then led 7-4, before the home side slowly took control of the set. With Hope International leading 18-17, the Royals proceeded to score seven of the next 10 points to clinch the match.
 
Tarver led TMU in kills for the sixth-straight time, tallying 13. Natalie Collins orchestrated the offense with her 38 assists, while also leading the team in service aces with three. Emily Scott posted nine kills, while Ruby Duncan added eight.
 
Defensively, Anna Poole paced the Mustangs with a career-high 22 digs. Williams (14) and Karli Stults (11) also tallied double-digit digs. Duncan recorded a team-high four blocks, with Machado and Scott each pitching in two.
 
Master's (6-14 overall, 2-8 GSAC) returns home on Saturday for a 6 p.m. GSAC match against Vanguard.