Fullerton, CA – The Hope International men's volleyball team (3-8, 0-5 GSAC) fell 3-1 to the Arizona Christian University Firestorm on Saturday afternoon at home in the Darling Pavilion.

The first set started out back and forth as the teams exchanged leads until the Firestorm used a 4-0 run to pull away to a 13-9 advantage. A kill by Coby Prowse pulled it back to 13-10 but the Firestorm answered with a 7-1 run as they took control at 21-10 before going on to win the set 25-13 and take a 1-0 lead. The Royals took an early 6-5 lead in the second set before the Firestorm went on a big run to take a 12-7 advantage. The Royals continued to battle as they made it 15-14 on a Prowse kill but the Firestorm answered as they took a 21-16 lead. The Royals once again came back as they went on a 7-2 run to take a 23-22 lead. They were unable to close it out though as the Firestorm came back to win 28-26 and take a 2-0 lead.
 
The third set was a back and forth battle as the Royals looked to stay alive as they took a 14-13 lead midway through the set. It was the Firestorm though who pulled away to a 17-14 advantage. The Royals weren't about to give in though as they went on a 9-2 run led by two kills each from Brian Castro and RJ Ruacho as they took a 23-19 lead. Prowse then closed out the set with a kill followed by a service ace as the Royals as the Royals won 25-19 and made it 2-1. Despite the Royals efforts the fourth set was all Firestorm as they took an early 3-1 lead and never trailed as they took the set 25-17 and the game 3-1. Prowse led the Royals with 10 kills.
 
The Royals continue action at home as they host Vanguard on Wednesday, March 8 at 6:00 PM in the Darling Pavilion in Fullerton, CA