Mustangs pick up first win of young season

SIOUX CITY, IOWA – Morningside took the court for the second time in as many days, hoping to bounce back from a tough loss the night prior.  The Mustangs, looking like a different team, collected a home five-set win over the Clarke Pride, 19-25, 25-22, 22-25, 25-23, 15-9.

The difference on the floor for Morningside was visible, with the players picking each other up after every point, even as the team saw set one slip out of its grasp. 

"I think the guys feel a lot more confident and are more confident with being on the court together," said head coach Addison Mertler, who is in his freshman season at Morningside. "The guys are so close, and love to compete with each other and make each other better. I give them so much credit in being able to continue to fight and show heart in the way that they play."

Defense has become a hallmark of Mertler's first Morningside squad, a point that was clear again today in the team's second match as the team rang up 8.5 blocks and 58 digs, led by Erik Krenz, with five blocks, and Lucas Begliomini, with 15 digs.

Krenz was tailed by Jacob and Isaiah Baynes and Jacob DePauw, with three blocks each, while Begliomini was followed by Isaiah Baynes and Owen Anderson, with 11 and nine digs, respectively.

"We stress the importance of defense everyday in practice, it has become part of who we are as a team," said Mertler previously.  

"As a team that's undersized, we really rely on the defense and ball control to allow our front row to get a chance to attack," Mertler elaborated today. "The extra touches and opportunities that our defense gives us gives our offense additional opportunities to work and find extra chances to score." 

And chances to score the offense had, collecting 61 kills and 63 assists, both good for single game school records.

Isaiah Baynes led Morningside's attack, with a record-setting 27 kills, besting the old mark of 21 kills in a five-set match.  Baynes was tailed by Dylan Hamil, with 11, and Begliomini, with nine.

"As a team we talk about the standard that we set as a program and individuals every time we set food on the court, and now we have the opportunity to compete at a higher level, and show what we are capable of," said Mertler.

The Mustangs' season continues on Tuesday, January 25, when they travel to Ottawa University and face the Braves in a 7 p.m. contest.