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A late offensive spark from The Master’s College women’s volleyball team wasn’t enough to upset No. 17 Vanguard University Saturday night as the Lady Mustangs fell to the Lions 3-2 in Costa Mesa.

The loss moves TMC’s 2014 record moves to 8-6 and 0-2 in GSAC play.

Saturday night started with TMC fighting tooth and nail during the first two sets. However, Vanguard narrowly escaped with a pair of 25-21 victories.

Allison Child (Shingle Springs, CA) got TMC on the board early in the third frame, laying the foundation for a 25-23 victory over the Lions.  As a team, the Lady Mustangs posted 12 kills and a team-high .344 attack percentage against the Pride in set three.

Riding their newfound momentum in to the fourth set, TMC again moved past the Lions by posting another 25-23 victory.  Britney Jones (Northridge, CA) sealed the set with a decisive kill off an assist from Aubrey Bekendam (Orland, CA), forcing the evening’s fifth frame.

With seven tie scores leading up to a 12-12 gridlock, the Lions managed to break free as a TMC attack error and two kills from Vanguard’s Marissa Laster put things on ice at 15-12.

Child led TMC in kills by posting 11, while Ashley Kuhlman followed with 10.  Having another impressive showing, Bekendam was all over TMC’s stat sheet as the junior earned 35 assists, 17 digs, and nine kills.  Emily Clark again led TMC’s defensive efforts by posting 24 digs.

Now, the Lady Mustangs travel back to Santa Clarita hungry for their first GSAC victory.  Next weekend provides ample opportunity for the Lady Mustangs to even out their conference record as TMC hosts Arizona Christian (6-3, 1-1) and San Diego Christian (3-4, 2-0) in back-to-back matches starting next Friday.

First up, the Lady Mustangs will battle the ACU Firestorm Friday night at Bross Court. First serve is set for 5 p.m.