The Master’s University  (TMU) Men’s Volleyball team swept Princeton University in three sets in a scrimmage at the Mustang’s MacArthur Center.

Over recent years, TMU Men’s Volleyball program has made waves with standout performances against NCAA Division 1 opponents. 

The latest triumph came on January 7, when the Mustangs swept Princeton in a scrimmage, winning three straight sets and playing an additional fourth for development purposes.

Although the Mustangs lost the fourth set, which featured their backup players, Head Coach Jared Goldberg highlighted the significance of the earlier sets. “Our starters beat their starters in the first, second, and third sets,” Goldberg explained.

Goldberg noted that while TMU played its starters for all three sets, Princeton rotated some key players into the lineup after the first set. “I think they were going in not really sure what to expect and what to expect from our group,” he added.

The Mustangs’ success can be attributed to a rigorous fall season, where they faced several NCAA Division 1 teams. “This fall, I think we’ve played every single Division 1 team in California,” Goldberg shared.

The Mustangs competed against elite programs like Long Beach State, USC, UCLA, Stanford, Pepperdine, and UC Santa Barbara. For two consecutive years, TMU has also hosted UC Irvine, a top-five NCAA team, for fall matches.

“It was a really busy fall,” said Goldberg. “Playing such strong teams has prepared us for the season ahead. We even have some Division 1 games early this year before starting our NAIA schedule.”

Goldberg believes these preseason challenges will give TMU an edge over other NAIA programs. “We’re going to be more battle-tested than any other NAIA team by the end of the year,” he said. “When we reach big moments, we’ll be ready.”

The Mustangs’ recent history reflects the benefits of facing tough competition. Last season, TMU won the GSAC Championship and made it to the NAIA Championship for the second time in program history. This year, their goal is to capture the National Championship while honoring the Lord.

Goldberg emphasized the importance of depth, pointing to past challenges with bench productivity as a key area for growth. 

“Throughout the years, that has been the difference in why we haven’t been able to win it yet,” Goldberg said. “Two years ago, when we lost in the semi-finals, we had a starter go down due to injury in the national championship tournament, and honestly, I feel that was the difference.”

Last year, in the NAIA Championship game against Georgetown, one of TMU’s starters became ill the night before the game and had to rely on the bench, again stressing the need for depth.

To address this, TMU has scheduled demanding matches and maintains hard, competitive practices to improve its bench strength.

The Mustangs’ next Division 1 matchup is set for January 16 at 6 p.m. at TMU, where they will face Purdue Fort Wayne.

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