Game Recap By Mason Nesbitt, TMU Sports Information Director

The Master’s University women’s volleyball team did not claim at least a share of the first Golden State Athletic Conference title in program history this weekend during a two-match swing through Northern California. But the Mustangs remain in the driver’s seat.

Master’s fell 3-0 to Menlo College on Saturday night in Atherton, California, dropping to 25-5 overall and 14-2 in conference play.

The Mustangs lead Westmont College by one match with two to go, Master’s closing the regular season with a homestand next weekend.

No. 11 TMU will host No. 15 Vanguard University on Friday night before Life Pacific pays a visit to The MacArthur Center on Saturday. The pair of matches are packed with intrigue as the Mustangs seek to cap what’s been an amazing turnaround with a trophy.

The team did not fray on Saturday.

“I was very encouraged by the team response,” said coach Allan Vince after TMU lost by scores of 25-12, 25-15, 25-23. “Wisdom was shared in the locker room, and togetherness was our theme moving forward. Training will be focused and sharp come next week.”

The Mustangs beat Menlo in three sets at TMU earlier on Sept. 28, but found themselves reliving history on the road.

Master’s lost in three in Atherton a year ago. It lost at William Jessup the following day and never recovered in a season that ended with 11 wins.

Entering 2018, the Mustangs set their sights not only on a turnaround but on a title. All its goals remain on the table.

Jane Cisar led TMU with 10 kills Saturday. No other Mustang recorded more than four kills. Kayla Sims tallied 14 assists and McKenna Hafner had 14 digs.

The Mustangs made things interesting in set three, rallying to force a 23-23 tie after back to back kills from Cisar.

But Menlo’s Kenzie Carpenter answered with two kills of her own, and the Mustangs were forced to wait for another chance at history.