The Stevenson University men’s volleyball team secured its spot in the Middle Atlantic Conference (MAC) Playoffs in emphatic fashion on Saturday night, sweeping visiting Eastern University 3-0 on a special Senior Night at Owings Mills Gymnasium.
Set scores were 25-12, 25-16, and 25-11, as the Mustangs (14-7, 5-2 MAC) delivered a wire-to-wire performance marked by efficient offense, dominant defense, and a fitting showcase from the team’s senior class.
In a game that featured all seniors, for nearly the entire game, they went out on top in their final regular season match at home.
Stevenson hit a sizzling .373 across the three-set victory, tallying 33 kills to just eight errors on 67 total swings. The Mustangs saved their sharpest set for last, hitting .500 in the third (9 kills, 2 errors, 14 attempts) to put the match away.
Senior outside hitter Ryan Thenell set the tone both offensively and defensively, leading the Mustangs with nine kills on just 12 swings for a .667 hitting percentage, while also notching three solo blocks.
As a team, Stevenson registered seven solo blocks and 12 block assists, smothering Eastern’s attack throughout the night.
Fellow senior Tim Flanagan added eight kills, and Jacob Sledz contributed seven more in a balanced effort.
Doug Hines shared his thoughts on being able to play with his fellow seniors in the makeshift senior day lineup in the postgame interview from GoMustangSports.
“I’m proud, I am super happy. I have been playing with these guys the past four years. You know I couldn’t ask for a better class. Not only are they my teammates but their my best friends.”
Senior setter Doug Hines directed the offense with 27 assists and kept the tempo high all match long. Libero Kyle Dietrich, another senior, anchored the back row with a match-high seven digs.
Prior to first serve, the Mustangs honored their six graduating seniors—Ryan Thenell, Tim Flanagan, Jacob Sledz, Kyle Dietrich, Doug Hines, and Brian Farrell—for their contributions to the program during their final regular-season home match.
The Mustangs will wrap up regular-season play on Saturday with a tri-match at Misericordia, where they will face both the host Cougars and non-conference foe Saint John Fisher.
The showdown with Misericordia carries playoff implications, as the two teams are battling for the No. 3 seed in the MAC Tournament. The winner will earn the third seed, while the loser will host the No. 5 seed in the opening round of postseason play.
