The Stevenson University men’s volleyball team demonstrated commendable resilience and determination Thursday night, but ultimately fell short in the semifinals of the 2025 Middle Atlantic Conference, losing a hard-fought match 3-1 to the tournament’s top-seeded Stevens Institute of Technology.
Set scores were 22-25, 25-17, 27-25, and 25-17, with the fourth-ranked Ducks now advancing to the NCAA tournament after defeating Messiah to capture their fourth straight MAC title.
Stevenson (15-10) put forth a spirited team effort, paced offensively by Tim Flanagan, who delivered an impressive performance with a match-high 24 kills.
Flanagan was pivotal throughout the evening, frequently coming up big in critical moments. Teammates Ryan Thenell and Anthony Pezzino also provided strong offensive support, each contributing 11 kills.
Connor Roth masterfully orchestrated the Mustang offense, distributing the ball effectively to finish the match with 46 assists. Roth’s impact extended beyond setting duties, as he, alongside Flanagan and Adam DeRubertis, contributed two service aces apiece to keep Stevenson competitive.
On the defensive front, the Mustangs fought hard against a potent Stevens offense. Thenell led Stevenson in digs with eight, closely followed by Pezzino who secured seven.
At the net, Stevenson’s blocking was consistent and robust, as Thenell, RC Getteau, and Corwin Trouteaud each tallied three block assists, adding essential pressure to Stevens’ attackers.
For Stevens (24-4), standout attacker Koby Sherman dominated, recording a team-best 25 kills and frequently dictating the tempo of play.
Stevenson set the tone early in the first set, recovering from a sluggish start and taking their initial lead at 9-8 thanks to a powerful kill by Flanagan. Both squads battled fiercely, exchanging points throughout the set.
The Mustangs surged ahead late, building momentum with consecutive kills from Pezzino to establish a 23-21 edge. Flanagan’s subsequent kill brought the Mustangs to set point, and a well-placed spike from Pezzino, assisted skillfully by Roth, secured Stevenson a thrilling 25-22 first-set victory.
Momentum shifted in the second set as Stevens quickly regained their composure, jumping out to an early 11-6 advantage highlighted by a pivotal service ace from Sebastian Huyke. Stevenson briefly threatened, narrowing the gap to 12-10 after Roth executed an ace of his own, but Stevens responded decisively with a strong 8-2 scoring run.
Sherman and Huyke were instrumental during this stretch, leading the Ducks to a comfortable 25-17 victory to even the match at one set each.
The third set saw Stevenson rallying impressively after trailing 16-12 midway. Demonstrating resilience and focus, the Mustangs steadily chipped away at the Ducks’ lead. The teams exchanged several dramatic rallies, and Flanagan eventually tied the score at 25-all with yet another crucial kill.
Despite Stevenson’s tenacious effort, Stevens managed to seize critical points in crunch time, narrowly capturing the set 27-25 to grab a pivotal 2-1 lead.
Stevenson came out aggressively in the fourth set, briefly pulling ahead 9-7 thanks to continued offensive production from Flanagan.
However, Stevens showed why they earned the top seed, responding with a decisive 10-2 scoring run after a 12-12 tie.
This surge built a commanding 22-14 advantage, and the Ducks maintained their lead down the stretch to clinch the fourth set 25-17 and secured their spot in the championship match. They eventually went on to defeat Messiah in the MAC championship.
The Mustangs conclude their season with a 15-10 overall record and 5-3 in conference play.
