1/17/2026
Cal Lutheran Kingsmen continued its unbeaten start with a straight set win over Vassar Brewers, taking the match 25-16, 25-12, 25-23 on January 17 at Kaiser Permanente Arena in Santa Cruz. The Kingsmen improved to 6-0 on the season with a performance built on steady offensive output and sustained pressure, while Vassar dropped to 0-2 despite flashes of resistance late.
The opening set saw Cal Lutheran establish control early behind a balanced attack and a clean first contact phase. Tyler Linville, a transfer from Moorpark College, immediately made his presence felt, terminating efficiently on the left pin while helping the Kingsmen hit .444 in the set. Aidan Godfrey added early production as well, and Cal Lutheran’s ability to side out consistently pushed the margin to 25-16 as Vassar struggled to gain traction offensively.
Set two tilted even more sharply in Cal Lutheran’s favor. Linville continued to carry a heavy workload, and Mason Rowell was effective in the middle as the Kingsmen capitalized on extended rallies. Godfrey added another seven kill match by this point, and the Kingsmen used service pressure to limit Vassar to a negative hitting percentage in the set. Cal Lutheran closed quickly at 25-12, holding Vassar to just seven kills against 11 attack errors.
The third set provided Vassar its strongest stretch of the match. Ryan Lippert and Armaan Desai found better rhythm, and the Brewers pushed the set into the late teens while trimming the gap to 23-23. Cal Lutheran answered with composure, turning to Matthew Wilcox and Tyler Linville for termination on consecutive points. Linville finished the match with back to back kills to secure the 25-23 set and complete the sweep.
Linville led all attackers with 10 kills on .300 hitting, adding eight digs and two service aces in an all around effort. Godfrey followed with seven kills on .353 efficiency, while Brendan Hom matched that kill total and contributed five service aces despite a lower hitting percentage. Rowell added three kills and three blocks, giving Cal Lutheran a steady presence at the net throughout the match.
At setter, Keaton Hendry directed the offense with 26 assists while helping the Kingsmen finish at a .228 team hitting percentage. Cal Lutheran posted nine service aces and seven total blocks, numbers that consistently disrupted Vassar’s offensive flow. For Vassar, Desai recorded six kills on .417 hitting and Walter Birnbaum added six kills, but the Brewers were limited to a .024 team attack percentage over three sets.
The result reinforced Cal Lutheran’s early season form, showing depth, patience, and finishing ability even when Vassar pushed late. With Linville settling quickly into the lineup and multiple attackers contributing across sets, the Kingsmen continue to look increasingly comfortable as their unbeaten start rolls on