By Mason Nesbitt, TMU Sports Information Director

If you’re looking to put the Mustangs’ stellar start in context, try this on: The season is 10 days old, and Master’s is two wins shy of matching last year’s total.

The Mustangs have run out to nine straight wins to open the year but have rarely looked as dominant as in Saturday’s home opener, a 3-0 win over Marymount California University by scores of 25-15, 25-10, 25-12.

Jane Cisar and Kayla Sims led with eight kills apiece for Master’s, which is off to its best start since at least 2004. Sims added 21 assists. Kylie Brown tallied seven kills, Madi Fay had six and Autumn Stevens had five. Sarah Park dished out 15 assists.

The Mustangs will now gear up for one of the toughest tests any NAIA team will face this season. On Aug. 31 and Sept. 1, Master’s will play in the Hampton Inn Classic in Columbia, Mo. There TMU will face three teams ranked in the nation’s top five and another in the top 15.

The Mustangs will close the tournament with a match against defending national champion and current No. 1 Lindsey Wilson (Ky.), a team that lost all of five sets last season.

Saturday, Master’s cruised.

McKenna Hafner produced a match-high 12 digs, and Cisar came up with five total blocks, two solo. Master’s hit at a .538 clip in the third set and .346 for the match.

It all came in front of an energized Mustang crowd that won’t see its team again until Sept. 13, when the University of St. Katherine comes to Bross Court for a non-conference match.

The match will be a break from Golden State Athletic Conference play, which begins Sept. 7 with a two-day trip to Arizona to play new GSAC member Ottawa University Arizona and Arizona Christian.

Next week’s tournament in Missouri should give the Mustangs a strong feel for where they’re at heading into conference play.