Hoboken, N.J. – The No. 3-ranked and top-seeded Stevens Institute of Technology men's volleyball team captured their fourth consecutive Middle Atlantic Conference (MAC) Championship, defeating second-seeded Messiah University in straight sets (25-23, 25-18, 25-20) on Saturday.
 
Senior outside hitter Koby Sherman was named the MAC Championship Most Valuable Player after leading the Ducks (25-4) with 36 kills across the two playoff matches.
 
HOW IT HAPPENED
The opening set was tightly contested, with neither side able to take control early. Messiah (25-3) used a 6-2 run to grab an 11-9 lead. Stevens answered with a series of key kills from Joshua Levandoske, Sherman, and Sebastian Huyke to stay within one point on three occasions.
 
The Falcons extended their lead to 20-14 behind a 7-2 surge, highlighted by a double block from Ryan Givens and Brandon Sharp. However, the Ducks responded with a dominant 9-1 run, fueled by kills from Sherman, Esteban Schmitt, and Tyler Hoke, along with an ace by Tyler Christensen. Stevens reached set point following a Messiah block error, and Hoke and Huyke sealed the set with a double block for a 25-23 win.
 
With the second set tied at 4-4, Levandoske sparked a 6-2 run with a kill. Hoke capped the stretch with another kill, followed by a double block from Hoke and Huyke. Christensen's ace extended the Ducks' lead to 16-10 midway through the frame. Although Messiah closed the gap to 22-18, a service error handed the momentum back to Stevens. Christensen delivered another ace, and a block from Sherman and Hoke clinched the set, 25-18.
 
In the third set, consecutive blocks by Hoke and Huyke gave Stevens an early 7-3 edge. A kill by Sharp brought Messiah within three at 10-7, but back-to-back kills from Alex Olcott and a double block from Olcott and Schmitt pushed the Ducks' lead to 20-13. A Schmitt kill extended the margin to 22-15. Messiah rallied with three straight points to make it 22-18, but a service error brought up match point. After Messiah fought off one, an attack error ended the match and secured Stevens' spot in the NCAA Tournament.
 
INSIDE THE BOX SCORE

• Stevens has defeated Messiah in three of the last four MAC Championship Finals.
• The Ducks hit .375 as a team, finishing with 36 kills and just six attack errors—the fewest in a match this season.
• Sherman paced Stevens with 11 kills and added four digs.
• Huyke ran the offense effectively, tallying 30 assists along with five blocks and five digs.
• Hoke was a defensive presence at the net with seven block assists and three kills.
• Levandoske contributed 23 kills and just two errors over the two playoff matches, including eight kills in the final.
• Christensen finished with four service aces, one shy of his season high.

UP NEXT
Stevens will learn their NCAA Tournament matchup during the Selection Show on Monday at 10 a.m., streamed live on NCAA.com.