The Master's ends Volleyball's NAIA postseason run in the Opening Round

SANTA CLARITA, Calif. – Behind a near season-high block total, The Master's University earned a 3-0 win over Benedictine Volleyball in the Opening Round of the 2024 NAIA Women's Volleyball National Championship. 

The Mustangs finished the match with the Ravens with 11 team blocks, two shy of its season-high 13, en route to the 25-18, 25-15, 25-18 win over Benedictine.

The Ravens pulled even with the Mustangs early in the opening set on a kill from Mahala Sewell. The Master's answered that kill with a 4-0 run that allowed them to pull ahead by six points. The Ravens pulled back within 3 points late in the set an error by the Mustangs but couldn't pull any closer as they suffered the 7-point loss. 

The Master's used a match-high .359 attack percentage in the second set to pull away from Benedictine for their second win. They also finished the set with 3 team blocks, which led to the Ravens hitting .154 for the second straight set.

A 9-2 start to the third set put The Master's in control. Kills from Regan Bruggeman, Mahala Sewell, Maura Lickteig, and Winny Harris allowed the Ravens to close their deficit down to 2 points, 13-11, but the Mustangs answered with a 4-0 run to regain control of the set.

Bruggeman led the Ravens with 12 kills, followed by Sewell with 11. Haley Cahill led the Ravens with 21 assists as Marissa Mantz added 8.

Benedictine finished with just 2 serves aces and 8 service errors while finishing with just 2 block assists – a season-low total at the net.

Evelyn Arreola finished with 19 digs defensively, while Hokulani Sagapolu added 14.

Benedictine finishes the season at 25-8 with the program's second straight trip to the NAIA playoffs. The 25-win season marks the most for the program since the 2009 season when they finished 26-7.

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