Game Recap By Mason Nesbitt, Sports Information Director

A hallmark of this season’s turnaround has been The Master’s University’s ability to confidently play out of system. Namely, when things didn’t unfold in a conventional manner — when there wasn’t a crisp bump, set, spike — TMU adjusted and found a way to put its opponent’s defense under pressure.

Wednesday night in Sioux City, Iowa, Reinhardt University knocked the Mustangs off balance and they never recovered in a 3-2 loss that dropped TMU out of contention to advance to bracket play at the NAIA women’s volleyball national tournament.

Master’s (29-7) at one point held a two sets to none lead, but will now conclude pool play and its season Thursday in a matchup with Dordt College, the tournament’s No. 5 overall seed.

This one seemingly belonged to Master’s after the Mustangs overcame a 24-20 deficit to win set one, 26-24. But in the end, TMU was left looking up in a 15-10 fifth set.

“I felt like we were in a good position after set two,” said junior Jane Cisar, “but with those kind of teams, it’s tricky. You know they’re looming right behind you, ready to attack any moment you slip up.”

The Mustangs best chances to avoid slipping came in sets three and four when they closed within 24-23 of Reinhardt but never took the lead.

Even in set five, Master’s built a 4-1 lead before the Eagles went on a 10-3 run to all but seal the Mustangs’ second loss in their first nationals appearance since 2013.

That lack of tournament experience, coach Allan Vince said, loomed large in Wednesday’s defeat.

“We’re learning as we go, learning through this experience how to be more unified as a team,” Vince said.

The Mustangs grew leaps and bounds in 2018, winning 18 more matches than a year ago and earning the program’s first-ever Golden State Athletic Conference regular season and tournament titles. Master’s earned the No. 12 seed at nationals and the No. 2 seed in its bracket.

But Corban University from Oregon, the pool’s No. 3 seed, took three unanswered sets Tuesday night to put the Mustangs in catch-up mode.

Wednesday, however, Master’s appeared to be in control thanks to a late rally in set one keyed by a freshman.

Trailing 24-23, Chloe Emory had a hand in the set’s final three points: back-to-back kills and a block assist, leaping with Cisar to put the Mustangs in front.

It was a promising sign. Entering the night, Master’s had lost only twice all season when it won the night’s opening frame.

TMU tightened its grip with a 25-21 win in set two. Then Reinhardt went on a run and Master’s began making uncharacteristic, and unforced, mistakes.

Vince estimated his team committed 48 unforced errors. “You can’t win that way,” he said.

And, ultimately, because TMU sits at 0-2 in its pool, behind Dordt at 2-0 and Corban and Reinhardt, each 1-1 and set to play each other Thursday, the Mustangs can no longer advance to bracket play. Still, Vince valued the opportunity to finish the season Thursday against a team the caliber of Dordt.

“It will be fun to play a great team, and we get to stay together,” Vince said. “That’s our purpose.”

Cisar said she hoped her teammates wouldn’t forget all they’ve accomplished.

“Someone in the locker room said even though we didn’t advance or play well as a team so far at the tournament, it doesn’t take away from us winning or making history,” she said.