Mustangs take set, unable to collect win against Viterbo

SIOUX CITY, IOWA – Morningside Men's Volleyball wrapped its opening weekend Saturday, Feb. 13, with a four-set match against the Viterbo V-Hawks. Viterbo got the best of the Mustangs, but not before the home team was able to wrestle its first set victory from the V-Hawks' talons, with scores of 25-21, 21-25, 25-14, and 25-17.

Viterbo started set one quickly, jumping to an early 6-1 lead before the Mustangs charged back into the foray, tying the game at 7-7. Back and forth the set went, until Viterbo rattled off a series of five points, breaking a 16-16 tie. The two teams again exchanged blows, with Viterbo wrapping the set.

"Consistency has been a battle for us leading up to this point," said head coach Theison Anderson. "It is something that we will continue to work on improving."

Morningside again started slowly in set two, tying the set at five before stretching out a three-point lead. Back and forth the set went, with the Mustangs not trailing in the set again.

"We found a flow, a rhythm," said Anderson. "We changed our strategy against Viterbo to relying more on the guys with experience, even if they weren't playing a position they normally would."

Set three again saw both teams jockeying back and forth, before Viterbo went on a six-point run. The Mustangs continued to chip off a couple points, but the V-Hawks continued on to the victory.

Morningside rattled off six points before Viterbo got on the scoreboard. The Mustangs held a lead until a pair of aces for the guests tied the game at 11. The teams exchanged blows until a 16-16 tie, when the guests pulled away for the win.

The Mustangs logged their best game of the young season, en route to capturing their first set win. The team logged 34 kills and 33 assists. Morningside aced Viterbo five times, had 49 digs, and eight team blocks.

Tyler Godown (JR/Las Vegas, Nev.) and Kahakai Kahoiwai (SO/Wahiana, HI) led Morningside's attack in the set, recording nine kills each. James Cleare (SO/Nassau, Bahamas) had eight, and Kyle Cox (SR/Mancos, Colo.) had four. Cox recorded 28 assists in the set.

Jonah Mika (SO/Las Vegas, Nev.) accounted for 14 of Morningside's digs while Kahoiwai scooped up 12. Godown had four blocks, two solo and two assists, while Cox and Derek Jones (FR/Houston, Texas) each had three block assists.

"I am so proud of the team. Given the adversity and frustration they faced today, they remained positive. They were good teammates to each other and they continued to battle," reflected Anderson. "Ultimately, we will use this weekend to grow."

Morningside, now 0-3, awaits a Friday match with No. 15 Ottawa University. The match will get underway at 7 p.m. in Allee Gym.