Home opener goes way of Jamestown

SIOUX CITY, IOWA – When the no. 7 team in the nation is in your conference, you're going to have to play them eventually. Unfortunately for Morningside's men's volleyball team, the first of several meetings for the teams also fell on the day that it opened its 2021 season. The Mustangs fell to the Jimmies 3-0 in the season opener, 25-12, 25-12, and 25-15.

While Morningside didn't fare the best, with team stats including a -.109 hitting percentage, 13 kills, 13 assists, and 16 digs, there were moments that gave the Mustangs hope as the young team works to keep moving forward. Morningside was able to keep pace with the top 10 Jimmies early in each of the three sets.

The Mustangs' James Cleare (SO/Nassau, Bahamas) led the team in attacking, terminating four points in the match. Jonah Mika (SO/Las Vegas, Nev.), Kyle Cox (SR/Mancos, Colo.), Kahaki Kahoiwai, and Tyler Godown (JR/Las Vegas, Nev.) each had two. Cox, the team's senior setter, dished 10 assists as he orchestrated Morningside's attack.

The black-clad Mustangs were championed on defense by Kahoiwai, with a single solo block and six digs. Mika, Cox, Godown, and Derek Jones (FR/Houston, Texas) each added a block assist, on the way to the team total of 3.0 blocks.

Morningside has a quick turnaround, returning to the floor with a pair of Saturday matches, playing Dordt at 1 p.m., and Viterbo at 5:30 p.m. on Feb. 13 in Allee Gym.