GRANTHAM, Pa. - For the first-time in program history, the Messiah men's volleyball team is the Champions of the Middle Atlantic Conference. The top-seeded Falcons fell into an early 2-0 hole against the Stevenson Mustangs, but shook off the cool start to win three-straight sets to claim the Conference Championship and Automatic Qualifier into the NCAA Tournament by a 3-2 (18-25, 13-25, 25-23, 25-20, 15-11) final score.
 
It was an all-around team effort for the Falcons, who were outscored 50-31 across the first two sets. It was Messiah's defense that got the Falcons back into the contest with 26 digs, eight team blocks, and a strong effort at the net across the final three sets.
 
While no Falcon picked up more than 13 kills in the match, three finished in double-digits with Ian Parzyszek and Mason Nissley leading the way with 13 kills each. Nate Bowman finished with 11 kills, three service aces, and five block assists for a well-rounded effort.
 
MAC Tournament Most Valuable Player, Matt Knab was strong for the Falcons, dishing out 40 assists while picking up six digs, finishing off three kills, and assisting on three bocks.
 
As mentioned, the Falcons claim their first Conference Title in the program's young three-plus year history. Messiah is the first team to punch their ticket to the 12-team NCAA Division III National Championships that will take place in Salem, Va. on April 21-24.
 
The Falcons will find out who their first-round match is against on Monday morning at 10:00 a.m. via an online selection show on ncaa.com.
 
Stevenson Out Quick
The two sides traded blows through the early portions of the opening set, but a 7-4 scoring run from the Mustangs separated the visitors from the Falcons, 18-14. The Mustangs used a .609 hitting percentage in the opening set with 15 kills and just one error to take a one set lead after winning the set 25-18. Messiah was sluggish in the first set, committing six attacking errors while hitting just .148.
 
The Mustangs continued their stellar play in set two, winning the game 25-13 behind a .320 hitting percentage. Messiah hit in the negatives in the set with 10 errors and just seven kills.
 
Don't Call it a Comeback
With two sets under their belt, Stevenson eyed a Conference Championship, but the Falcons would not go down without a fight. The Falcons grabbed the first two points of the third set, highlighted by a thunderous service ace from Ian Parzyszek. Messiah built their early lead in the set to three at 8-5, but a Stevenson run but the Mustangs up 12-10.
 
Nate Bowman put the team on his back for three-straight points, with a kill and back-to-back service aces, fueling the start of a 10-2 Messiah run. Two key kills from Marshall Nixon were part of that streak that put the Falcons up six at 20-14.
 
Just a few points later, that lead grew to seven at 23-16, but Stevenson once again hung tough. The Mustangs rattled off six-straight points to pull within one at 23-22, but Parzyszek record a kill to set the Falcons up for set point. After a kill from Stevenson's Logan Smiley, Nate Bowman capped off the set at 25-23 with a kill, forcing a fourth set.
 
Still fighting an uphill battle, Messiah fell into an early 4-1 hole in the fourth set, but rallied back to take their first lead of the set at 11-10. It was the Falcons' defense that kept Messiah in the match, with three blocks in the early going pulling momentum in favor of the home team.
 
The remainder of the set was tightly-contested. Trailing 17-15 after a kill from Stevenson's Aleks Melbardis, Messiah rattled off eight of the next nine points to take a commanding 23-18 lead. Messiah's middles fueled the run with Nate Bowman and Marshall Nixon combining for three kills and three blocks.
 
Three points later and with the Falcons leading 24-20, Bowman capped off his second-straight set with a kill to force a deceive fifth set with the MAC Championship on the line.
 
First-Time Champions
The Conference Championship-deciding fifth set was a back-and-forth battle for the first 11 points. The Mustangs held a slim 6-5 lead before the Falcons went on a roll. Messiah went on a 6-1 run that overwhelmed Stevenson and boosted the Falcons to an 11-7 lead. During the streak, Ian Parzyszek picked up a kill while Mason Nissley put down two swings. A Jared Keul ace was the final point of the run and gave Messiah a four-point lead.
 
Stevenson would rally back, making it a two-point game at 12-10 and 13-11, but Mason Nissley delivered the final blows with back-to-back kills giving the Falcons the set (15-11), the match (3-2), and their first MAC Championship in program history.
 
Men's Volleyball History
It took only four seasons for head coach Justin Beachy and the Messiah men's volleyball program to claim their first Conference Championship. The Falcons have gotten better every season as a program and currently hold a 16-2 overall record, heading into the program's first NCAA Tournament.
 
Messiah will wait until Monday morning to hear who they will be playing in the First Round of the NCAA Tournament. The NCAA Selection Show will take place on Monday morning at 10:00 a.m. on ncaa.com.
 
The Falcons are now one of just 12 teams remaining in the country, heading into the National Tournament. The Championships will take place in Salem, Va. on April 21-24 at the Salem Civic Center.