FULLERTON – Hope International battled The Master's in a GSAC men's volleyball match on Saturday at Darling Pavilion. The Royals threatened the NAIA's top-ranked team in the first set, but eventually succumbed by scores of 26-24, 25-18, 25-15.

The Royals led 24-23 in set one – aided by four service aces – but the Mustangs scored the final three points as Isaac Seltzer had two kills and an ace.

HIU overcame a 15-11 deficit, fighting back to a 22-21 lead as Alessandro Spendolini collected back-to-back kills. The Royals got to set point on a TMU service error.

Leading 4-2 early in set two, the Royals could not sustain the momentum as TMU fired off a 7-1 run. The Mustangs benefited from three HIU service errors to build a 14-10 lead, but the Royals scored three straight to pull within one. HIU trailed 15-14 before the Mustangs reeled off five straight points to create a 20-14 cushion, as Trace Oswald had three kills during the run.

The Mustangs cruised to the 25-18 win, hitting .429 (15-3-28) in set two.

TMU swung at a .522 (14-2-23) clip in set three to run away with the 25-15 victory. The Royals stayed within striking distance while trailing just 7-5, but the Mustangs scored five straight points to take control.

HIU eventually trailed 20-11 and had trouble stopping Oswald, who notched five kills in the set. Seltzer posted the final kill on match point to finish alongside Oswald for team-high honors in kills with 15.

Spendolini led the Royals with nine kills and Benjamin Antonio added six. Spendolini had a pair of block solos and Hugo Gonzalez Gutierrez topped the back row with seven digs.

The Royals fell to 4-13 overall and 2-5 in the GSAC. The Mustangs won their 41st straight match in improving to 14-0 overall and 7-0 in conference play.

HIU hosts La Sierra to continue GSAC action on Tuesday, March 24 at 6:00 p.m.