Championship Central Page

OWINGS MILLS, Md. (Volleyball) – The top-seeded Stevenson Mustangs were pushed to five sets for just the fourth time this season. The Mustangs rallied in the fourth set and held on in the fifth set to defeat the third-seeded Messiah Falcons 3-2 for their third-straight Commonwealth Conference Volleyball Championship.

Stevenson (29-5) won the first set by a score of 25-18, but then Messiah (26-8) took a 2-1 lead after winning the second set (25-20) and the third set (25-18).

The Falcons had a 19-15 lead late in the fourth set, but the Mustangs rallied to tie the set at 21-21. Messiah then pushed its lead to 23-22 before Stevenson won three-straight points to steal the fourth set and tie the match 2-2.

Stevenson charged out to a 6-1 lead in the fifth set, forcing Messiah to call a timeout. The Mustangs pushed their lead to 9-4, but then the Falcons made things interesting.

Messiah came within 12-11 and then 14-13 before Stevenson earned the final point they needed for a 15-13 fifth-set win and match victory.

Stevenson’s Commonwealth Rookie of the Year finished 17 kills and 15 digs. The Mustangs’ Commonwealth Player of the Year Samantha Perillo recorded a game-high 37 digs. Kristen Brooks also recorded a double-double with 10 kills and 25 digs.

Messiah’s Kristen Douglas record 17 kills and 31 digs, while Jane Underman had 17 kills and 10 digs.

Perillo was named the Commonwealth Conference Championship Most Valuable Player.

Stevenson earns the Commonwealth Conference’s automatic qualifier (AQ) to the NCAA Division III Tournament. The field will be announced on Monday, Nov. 10 at 11 a.m. at www.NCAA.com.