No. 8 TMU Men's Volleyball almost sent its seniors off in a perfect manner on Senior Day – until No. 5 Menlo spoiled those plans.
The Mustangs took the first two sets, before the Oaks stormed back to complete a reverse sweep (23-25, 22-25, 25-23, 25-17, 15-10) in Golden State Athletic Conference action.
Menlo appeared to be cruising in the opening stanza, leading 21-14 and then 22-16, before a trio of
Braden Van Groningen kills and a pair of blocks from
Will Avera and
Brock Gardner sparked an 8-0 run to give Master's set point. After the visitors saved the first set point, an Oak attacking error allowed the Mustangs to claim the opening set.
TMU then needed no such major comeback in the second set. With the score tied 19-19, a Van Groningen kill capped off a 3-0 streak that put the Mustangs in control.
Will Avera's kill claimed the second set to put Menlo on the brink of a sweep.
The Oaks had different ideas.
Master's seemed destined to complete the sweep, leading late in the third set. Trailing 15-16, back-to-back
Brett Norkus kills punctuated a 4-0 run to put the Mustangs ahead by three. After a 3-0 Menlo run tied the set, a Van Groningen kill restored TMU's lead at 23-22. However, the Oaks claimed the next three points to force a fourth set.
Menlo used that late third-set momentum to run away with the fourth set and require a deciding fifth stanza to settle the contest.
With the visitors leading 3-2 in the fifth, a 4-0 run put the Oaks up by five to all but clinch the victory.
Van Groningen led the Mustangs with a career-high 22 kills, while the Norkus brothers (Brett and
Trent Norkus) each contributed 10 kills apiece. Avera and Gardner led all players with six blocks, while
Wyatt Bates had a match-high 15 digs.
Before the match, Master's honored four seniors in
Ben Herb,
Brett Norkus,
Kevin Moore and Bates.
Master's (11-8 overall, 3-5 GSAC) concludes its regular season next week with a trip to Arizona. The Mustangs will take on Park University Gilbert (Ariz.) on Thursday before finishing its conference slate on Friday and Saturday against No. 2 Ottawa University Arizona and Arizona Christian University.
