Mustangs drop two to start new season

TMU Women's Volleyball won the first set in both of its matches on Tuesday at the Hope Summer Slam, but the Mustangs were unable to capitalize on their quick starts, falling to Embry-Riddle University (Ariz.) in five sets (31-29, 20-25, 25-21, 15-25, 9-15) and University of Saint Katherine in four sets (25-23, 20-25, 20-25, 27-29).
 
Master's and Embry-Riddle got the two-day tournament started with a thrilling five-set encounter between teams who are both receiving votes in the NAIA Preseason Coaches' Poll. The first set in particular proved how evenly matched the two teams are, with the Mustangs prevailing 31-29.

"Our first set of the first match gave us glimpses of how good this team can be," Master's Head Coach Annett Davis said. "We passed and played defense well. We ran complicated offensive schemes. Our setter Natalie Collins masterfully chose spots to set that confused the other team's blocks."
 
TMU appeared to be running away with the opening set, when an Emilye Grace Williams kill capped off a 6-0 Master's run, putting the Mustangs ahead 21-17. ERAU then responded with a 5-0 streak to pull ahead, albeit momentarily. Two Emily Clark kills put TMU on the brink of clinching the set up 24-23, but ERAU was able to save the first of five set points. With the score then knotted up at 29 apiece, an Emily Scott kill and Embry-Riddle attacking error helped the Mustangs claim the first set.
 
The Eagles came out flying in the second set, rushing out to a 6-1 lead. Master's then fought back to tie the set at 7-7 after a Faith Tarver service ace. Multiple runs allowed ERAU to regain its lead by as many as six, but with the score 20-16 in favor of the Eagles, two Williams' kills brought the Mustangs to within one. A 4-0 ERAU run put the set out of reach, however, with Embry-Riddle evening the match at one set apiece.
 
The Mustangs regained its advantage in the match by winning the third set, which went back-and-forth until a 3-0 TMU streak, capped by a Ruby Duncan kill, put Master's back ahead 2-1. However, Embry-Riddle fought right back with five-straight points to open the fourth. Another 5-0 run put ERAU up by seven, as the Eagles later extended their lead to win the fourth by double digits and force a deciding fifth set.
 
Embry-Riddle appeared to be soaring away with the fifth, after six-consecutive points put ERAU ahead, 9-4. Clark, Williams and Emily Scott then recorded kills to help TMU tie the set at 9 apiece. However, the Eagles went on another 6-0 run to clinch the match.
 
In her Mustang debut, junior transfer Clark led the way offensively, recording 19 kills on a .302 attack %, to go along with 13 digs. Natalie Collins set a career-high with 42 assists.

"Natalie stood out today," Davis said of her sophomore setter. "She has some humongous shoes to fill, but she stepped into her role as starting setter with confidence and ran the team well for her first time."

Williams added double-digit kills with 12. Karli Stults (23 digs) and Tarver (career-high 22 digs) paced the TMU defense.
 
Master's looked set to bounce back in its second match of the day, against Saint Katherine, when late first-set kills by Duncan and Tarver helped the Mustangs claim the opening set by two points.
 
Unfortunately for TMU, USK responded by winning the final three sets. The Firebirds comfortably won the second set 25-20 before winning the third by the same scoreline. The Mustangs seemed likely to take a two-set-to-one advantage, leading by as many as four and as late as 18-16, but Saint Katherine scored nine of the final 11 points in the third set to pull ahead in the match.
 
A fifth set seemed destined when TMU had double-set point, ahead 24-22, after consecutive kills by Brooke Scott and Tarver. USK answered back with three-straight points to give itself match point. Another kill from Brooke Scott kept the Mustangs alive before a Firebird attack error gave Master's another chance to force a deciding set. However, Saint Katherine scored the final three points to win the set 29-27, dropping Master's to 0-2 on the young season.

"We went on a small rollercoaster ride with some ups and downs," Davis said. "Obviously, we want to win, but fortunately I think we came out of yesterday encouraged by what could happen with more practice to make it happen consistently."
 
Tarver led the Mustang attack against Saint Katherine with 13 kills, while Williams recorded double-digit kills (10) for the second-straight match. Collins orchestrated the offense with her 31 assists, while also adding a career-high five service aces and 10 digs. Stults set a career-high with 28 digs, with Tarver tallying 21 of her own.

"Karli had a good day of play," Davis said. "She seemed like a magnet, being in the right place at the right time and digging balls perfectly to our setter."
 
Master's will look for its first win of the new season on Tuesday, when the Mustangs take on UC Merced at 10:30 a.m. TMU concludes its participation in the Hope Summer Slam with a match against 15th-ranked Corban University (Ore.) at 3:30 p.m.
 
To watch the live stream of both matches, click HERE.