Mustangs fall in five-set thriller

The Master's University men's volleyball team fought back from a set down on two occasions, but a decisive fifth set went Arizona Christian's way, as the Firestorm defeated the Mustangs inside The MacArthur Center on Saturday afternoon by set scores of 25-19, 21-25, 25-22, 22-25, 17-15.
 
"The team did a great job fighting back and forth the entire match tonight," Master's head coach Jared Goldberg said. "I was proud of the way we came together when we were down and at the end of the day it just didn't swing our way."
 
ACU took the first set by six points, with a 7-1 run midway through the set proving to be the difference. TMU responded in the second set with multiple runs to pull away and tie the match at a set apiece.
 
Tied at 8-8, three Ben Herb service aces sparked the Mustangs on a 5-0 streak. The Firestorm then inched back and cut TMU's lead to one at 18-17. Kills by Herb and Ryan Fooks, as well as another ace from Herb, helped Master's on a 4-0 run that gave the Mustangs the separation they needed to win the set.
 
The third set remained close throughout, with the two teams tied as late as 20-20, until ACU scored five of the last seven points to regain its overall match advantage, two-sets-to-one.
 
The fourth set followed the same script, until at 20-20, the Mustangs were the ones who scored five of the last seven points to claim the set. Two Brandon Botdorf kills and a service ace from Austin McIntyre fueled a 4-0 TMU run to close the fourth and force a fifth and final set.
 
Arizona Christian came out on fire in the fifth set to take a quick 3-0 advantage, until three Botdorf kills were part of a 4-0 streak that gave Master's a 5-4 lead. After ACU went back ahead at 9-8, three-straight TMU points put the Mustangs up by two, 11-9. The Firestorm answered right back to tie the set and then ultimately set up match point at 14-13.
 
ACU appeared to win the game right there with a block. However, the visitors were called for a net violation, tying the set and giving TMU new life. The Mustangs appeared to take advantage of their newfound opportunity, taking a 15-14 lead and giving themselves match point. However, the Firestorm closed the set with three consecutive points to win what was a thrilling match.
 
Botdorf set a career-high in kills with 25 to lead all players, while Herb's 17 also were a personal best. Herb's four aces were the most in his Mustang career, as were McIntyre's three.
 
The personal-best marks did not stop there, with Ezra Moore also setting a career high with his 48 assists. Oscar Talavera-Castanoli led the Mustangs with nine digs.

Before the game, TMU honored its two graduating seniors in Christjan Tallara and Jacob Hafner as part of Senior Day.
 
Master's (2-8 overall, 2-6 GSAC) and Arizona Christian (2-6, 2-6) finish the GSAC regular season tied for second place in the GSAC East behind division champion Ottawa University Arizona (12-3, 8-0), ranked 12th in the NAIA.