Stevenson’s men’s volleyball team has been on a roll. They are finding their groove to help strengthen their team and keeping riding the momentum. First-year Lance Simon shared his thoughts on the team chemistry during this tear of three straight conference wins.
“Team chemistry has been so great. We are really a family so vibes are always good at practice and at games whether you’re on the bench or on the court.”
Men’s volleyball took another decisive step toward securing a spot in the Middle Atlantic Conference (MAC) playoffs on Wednesday night, sweeping Hood College in straight sets (25-14, 25-11, 25-15) at Owings Mills Gymnasium.
Kevin Kouchoucks shared how the team kept their foot on the gas pedal on the offensive front in the dominant win.
“We were just really focused on not letting our foot off the gas and keeping the pressure on at all times. I think we did a great job of serving well and keeping them out of system, which translated to us being able to run our offense in transition. Not letting our energy drop during a match has been a big focus for us recently, and I thought the team did an excellent job of playing a complete game from the first point to the last.”
With the win, the Mustangs improve to 13-7 overall and 4-2 in conference play. The team turned in one of its most efficient offensive performances of the season, hitting an impressive .410 for the match.
The second set was particularly dominant, as Stevenson recorded a staggering .706 hitting percentage (13 kills on 17 attempts with just one error).
Tanner Laukhuff and Adam DeRubertis led the offensive charge with 10 kills each, while Brian Farrell added seven of his own. DeRubertis also showcased his all-around game, firing off five service aces and tallying a team-high eight digs. Laukhuff added two aces to his stat line and played a key role at the net with three blocks.
Defensively, the Mustangs were strong at the net, with Adam Sawyers posting a match-high four blocks. Farrell contributed two blocks, complementing his efficient offensive performance.
Kouchoukos quarterbacked the offense with 29 assists, facilitating a smooth and balanced attack throughout the match. Simon also chipped in with seven digs, helping anchor the Mustang defense.
This match involved a nearly completely different lineup as most starters were rested. Simon also shared how the older players helped the players on the court keep their feet on the gas pedal of offense that was cranking. “The older guys help us a lot in getting us used to the difference in pace of play from high school to college.”
As the team has done before this season, they will prepare for another MAC opponent, Eastern University. With just two matches remaining in MAC play, Stevenson needs one more win to lock in a playoff spot.
The Mustangs will look to punch their ticket to the postseason on Saturday when they host Eastern. Match is set for 6 p.m. Saturday. You can watch it here.
