SANTA CLARITA, Calif. – The Concordia University Irvine men's volleyball team came up short in the second match of its two-game set against The Master's University on Saturday evening, falling in straight sets 25-18, 25-21, 25-23 at the MacArthur Center.

Looking to rebound from a 3-1 loss in the series opener, the Golden Eagles showed flashes of momentum but were unable to contain a balanced Mustang attack. With the win, The Master's remained unbeaten at 4-0 on the season behind an efficient .297 team hitting performance.

CUI found its rhythm offensively in the second set, delivering its strongest frame of the night with a .375 hitting percentage on 12 kills and just three errors. Despite the surge, the Mustangs answered with steady play down the stretch to secure the 25-21 set win. The Golden Eagles carried that momentum into the third, trimming the deficit late and threatening to extend the match, but The Master's closed the door to complete the sweep.

Christian Galoppo led the Green and Gold with nine kills, while Myles Henderson added eight kills along with two aces, two blocks, and four digs in an all-around effort.

Coming off the bench, setter Matt Fisher saw key action and helped orchestrate the offense with 15 assists while tying Troy Fleming for a team-high five digs. At the net, Nathan Habermas anchored the Golden Eagles' blocking effort, recording six of the team's seven total blocks on the night.

Statistically, CUI kept pace defensively with 27 digs and finished just one kill shy of the Mustangs (32-33). However, hitting efficiency proved decisive, as the Golden Eagles posted a .149 clip compared to The Master's .297.

The Green and Gold will look to regroup as it continues non-conference play, aiming to translate competitive moments into complete performances moving forward.

UP NEXT: The Golden Eagles will host #5 UC Irvine at home on Friday, February 6 at 5:00 PM. 

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