Stevenson University men’s volleyball team inched closer to a Middle Atlantic Conference (MAC) playoff berth on Friday night, delivering a dominant straight-sets victory over King’s College at Owings Mills Gymnasium. The Mustangs controlled the match from start to finish, winning by scores of 25-18, 25-21, and 25-10.
With the win, Stevenson improved to 12-7 overall and 3-2 in MAC play, staying firmly in the hunt for one of the conference’s coveted postseason spots.
The Mustangs came out strong in the opening set, using a balanced attack and tough serving to keep King’s on their heels. After taking the first two sets with confidence, Stevenson left no doubt in the third, putting together a nearly flawless performance. They hit a scorching .640 in the final frame, racking up 17 kills with just one error on 25 swings.
Senior outside hitter Tim Flanagan had a night to remember, powering the offense with 16 kills on 26 attempts, hitting an outstanding .538. He added three service aces and six digs.
Anthony Pezzino was right behind him with 15 kills of his own, while also chipping in eight digs on defense. Ryan Thenell added seven kills, helping to stretch the Monarchs’ defense and open up scoring opportunities across the net.
Setter Connor Roth kept the offense firing on all cylinders, distributing 34 assists and tying Flanagan with three service aces. On the defensive end, JD Sarmuksnis led with nine digs, keeping King’s hitters in check with solid back-row coverage.
Flanagan shared what team is doing to stay together as a team and keeping rolling with the crucial wins in the conference. “I think our “togetherness” comes from us being around each other all the time. Whether it’s practice, games, lift, or even hanging out together that all helps out with our chemistry on the court.”
The team knows how crucial each and every conference game is at this point of the season, Flanagan also shared how the team is staying ready and prepared for the next matchup. “We just try and take it one game at a time. We focus and study up on the next team that we face and we make sure we are fully prepared for the next game.”
Stevenson will look to carry that momentum Wednesday when they return to Owings Mills Gymnasium to host Hood College. With just a few regular season matches remaining, every win is crucial in the tightly contested MAC standings.
