Top-flight foes turn away Morningside

DUBUQUE, IOWA – Sophomore outside hitter Isaiah Baynes (Mankato, Minn.) resumed an impressive run of play Friday and Saturday, Jan. 28 and 29.

Head coach Addison Mertler's super sophomore reeled off a combined 44 kills. He finished with 15 apiece versus the hosts and Saint Xavier University during the two-day Clarke Pride Invitational inside CU's Kehl Center. He was only one successful offensive attack off that pace against Mount Mercy University, tallying 14.

Despite dipping to 1-5 and seeing a current skid reach four, the Mustangs took a Mount Mercy squad receiving votes on the recent National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics' poll to a 25-23 final in the second set to begin the weekend. They followed that up by tallying 25 first set points and 20 second set points against the Pride in a rematch of a home victory the weekend before. The tourney finale saw them tie the match at one set apiece against the No. 14-ranked Cougars before SXU rallied back for third and fourth set victories.

Baynes wasn't the only Mustangs' standout. Freshman middle hitter Erik Krenz (Mankato, Minn.) produced his second and third plus .400 attack percentage totals over the last four matches; freshman outside hitter Dylan Hamil (Durand, Ill.) compiled five blocks against Clarke; and freshman setter Jacob DePauw (South Beloit, Ill.) posted his fourth and fifth 25-or-more assist totals and upped his span of appearances with five-or-more digs to six straight were among the headliners.

Morningside resumes weekend tournament action traveling to Park University of Missouri for the Pirate Invitational Friday and Saturday, Feb. 4 and 5.