CEDAR RAPIDS, Iowa [BOX SCORE | BRACKET | SCHEDULE] - The No. 1 The Master's (Calif.) Mustangs emerged victorious over the No. 5 St. Thomas (Fla.) Bobcats in the semifinal round of the 2025 NAIA Men's Volleyball National Championship. TMU secured their spot in the championship final with a 3-0 victory.

The Mustangs took control of set one from the start with an 8-2 run. Despite a late four-point surge for the Bobcats at set point, they were unable to overcome the early lead that TMU had set up for a 25-15 final score. 

The Master's kicked off the second set in a similar fashion as set one but with a 9-2 scoring run. STU put together a 5-1 scoring run at 23-11 but the Mustangs closed out set two off of a St. Thomas errors. 

The teams fought back and forth in the third set through 16 scoring ties before 27, and then The Master's closed out the final two points to win the set 27-29. 

The Mustangs attack was led by Braden Van Groningen, who delivered 12 kills with an impressive .550 hitting percentage. Trace Oswald also contributed significantly, adding 11 kills at a .444 clip. Defensively, The Master's outperformed their opponents with a total of 18 blocks, creating a formidable barrier at the net. Will Avera and Trace Oswald were instrumental in this defensive effort, combining for 13 block assists.

St. Thomas struggled to find their rhythm against the top-seeded team. Gabriel Negrao and Kaelen Ingram led the Bobcats effort, each recording 12 kills.

The Master's advances to the championship for the second time. Friday's victory sets the stage for an exciting championship final, where the Mustangs will aim to cap off their undefeated season with a Red Banner. TMU will play Saint Xavier (Ill.) at 5 p.m. CT on Saturday, May 3, in the Alliant Energy Powerhouse.