Skip To Main Content

Menlo College

Skip Ad
mvb v hope
Copyright 2026 Kayla Stuart, All rights reserved.
2
Hope Int'l Hope 0-3
3
Winner Menlo Menlo 1-7,0-0 MPSF
Hope Int'l Hope
0-3
2
Final
3
Menlo Menlo
1-7,0-0 MPSF
Winner
Set Scores
Team 1 2 3 4 5 F
Hope Int'l Hope 29 21 25 15 13 (2)
Menlo Menlo 27 25 23 25 15 (3)

Next Match:

UC San Diego

2/21/2026 | 6:00 PM

Next Match

Full Schedule
Feb. 21 (Sat) / 6:00 PM
 UC San Diego
History

Game Recap: Men's Volleyball | | Riley J. Siason

Five-Set Battle at Haynes-Prim: Oaks Defeat Hope International for First Win of the Season

ATHERTON, CA – The Menlo men's volleyball team earned its first victory of the season in dramatic fashion, outlasting Hope International in a five-set battle inside Haynes-Prim Pavilion. The win also marks the first of Head Coach Ali'i Keohohou's tenure with the program.
 
Match Recap
The opening set was a tight one from the start, featuring multiple lead changes and long rallies. Both teams however struggled to find any sort of momentum, as both teams kept finding the net at the service line. The set saw both teams go into extra points and Hope International found the last bit of energy to take the set 29-27 to go up one over Menlo.
 
The Oaks turned the momentum around quickly early in the second, with Joshua Friedman earning three straight service aces to put the Oaks in a comfortable 6-0 lead to start. The Oaks' serving proved to be vital in taking the set, tallying 6 total aces. Mark Ensalaco led the set in kills with 5 to help assist in the Oaks maintaining control down the stretch to even the match at one set a piece.
 
The third set was another back-and-forth battle, with neither team leading by more than two points. The Oaks stayed within striking distance throughout, tying the game a 23 a piece to force a Royals timeout. However, Hope capitalized with a kill and a Menlo attack error to go up two sets to one.
 
The fourth saw the Oaks deliver their most complete set of the night. Menlo would go on an early eight point run that saw the Oaks' force the Royals into 5 attack errors during the spree. While Hope's offensive were trying to find momentum, Vojtech Simunek proved to be a big problem at the net, earning three solo blocks to help win the set 25-15 and force a deciding fifth set.
 
The fifth set matched the energy of the entire night, with both teams trading points and neither gaining much separation early on. Menlo grabbed an 8-6 edge at the switch, but the Royals battled back to take a 10-9 lead. The Oaks would keep their composure and answered immediately, and with the match on the line, Mark Ensalaco delivered the decisive point to seal a 15-13 win and secure Menlo's first victory of the season.
Oak Star Performances
  • Joshua Friedman had a masterclass of a performance as setter, earning 46 assists on the evening
  • Vojtech Simunek was the Oak's main blocker at the net, collecting an incredible 9 blocks
  • Mark Ensalaco and Mathias Durfee mimicked each other in three stat categories, both achieving 12 kills, 3 service aces, and 2 block assists on the night
 
Up Next
The Oaks will look to carry that momentum into Saturday as they host No. 10 UC San Diego at Haynes-Prim Pavilion. First serve is set for 6 p.m. on February 21, with the match streaming live on B1G
 
Print Friendly Version

Players Mentioned

Mathias Durfee

#3 Mathias Durfee

OPP/OH
6' 4"
Senior
Mark Ensalaco

#2 Mark Ensalaco

OPP
6' 5"
Sophomore
Joshua Friedman

#8 Joshua Friedman

S
6' 4"
Graduate Student
Vojtech Simunek

#21 Vojtech Simunek

MB
6' 6"
Freshman

Players Mentioned

Mathias Durfee

#3 Mathias Durfee

6' 4"
Senior
OPP/OH
Mark Ensalaco

#2 Mark Ensalaco

6' 5"
Sophomore
OPP
Joshua Friedman

#8 Joshua Friedman

6' 4"
Graduate Student
S
Vojtech Simunek

#21 Vojtech Simunek

6' 6"
Freshman
MB
Skip Ad