Mustangs conclude weekend series

JAMESTOWN, N.D. – While it's not uncommon for baseball or softball to play the same team twice in a day or on back-to-back days, it's less common to see it in volleyball. That, however, is exactly what Morningside men's volleyball and the University of Jamestown did this weekend, playing a Friday-Saturday series in North Dakota.

Morningside was hoping to avoid repeating the outcome of day one with a Saturday upset, but was unable to do so, concluding the team's regular season matches against Jamestown with an 0-3 loss, 25-16, 25-20, 25-10.

To say that the Mustangs didn't improve upon Friday's performance would be incorrect. Morningside saw improvements across the board, bettering numbers on both the offensive and defensive fronts.

On offense, those improvements manifested themselves in the form of six additional kills, for 18, fewer hitting errors, and more assists. Jacob Baynes (FR/Mankato, Minn.) led the attack with five kills, Tyler Godown (JR/Las Vegas, Nev.) and James Cleare (SO/Nassau, Bahamas) both followed with four. Kyle Cox (SR/Mancos, Colo.) had all 15 of the team's assists. Godown continues to be the hot hand at the service line, acing the Jimmies two of Morningside's four times.

The Mustangs' defense saw a jump in digs, compared to Friday's match, with the team tallying 19, led by Kahakai Kahoiwai (SO/Wahiana, HI) with six and Baynes with five. Cleare led the blocking efforts, with one solo and one block assist.

Morningside concludes the GPAC's inaugural regular season on March 24 with a 7 p.m. contest at Ottawa University.