Conference win eludes Mustangs

SIOUX CENTER, IOWA – What looked like a favorable night for the visitors on the scoreboard ended with the Mustangs' first conference win continuing to evade Morningside's men's volleyball team.  The host Defenders came back from the 2-0 deficit to defeat Morningside 3-2 with scores of 16-25, 20-25, 25-23, 25-10, and 15-13.

Morningside took a strong set one, distancing itself from Dordt in the middle of the set.  A kill by Isaiah Baynes, a Tharen Cox block at the net, and an Owen Anderson serve into the Defender ranks that couldn't be returned gave Morningside a cushion that Dordt couldn't overcome before the final point hit the floor.

Dordt was adapting to Morningside's moves, as set two remained neck and neck with the Mustangs through the duration of the match.  Up 15-14, a pair of Defender errors, one resulting in Cox's second solo block of the night, and a kill for Jacob Baynes gave the Mustangs the space that they needed to continue onto a 25-20 win.

It was in set three that Dordt would complete its swing, taking the set by a narrow 25-23 margin.  Set four followed in resounding fashion, before a tense set five also went to the Defenders.

Morningside's efforts were championed by Isaiah Baynes, with 23 kills, and Erik Krenz, with 14.  Jacob DePauw tallied 50 assists in the match.

Cox, as previously mentioned, accounted for Morningside's two solo blocks, collecting one in each of the first two sets.  Owen Anderson dug up 16 balls, while Jacob Baynes followed with 11.

Morningside is back in action on Saturday, as they head to Jamestown, N.D. for a 1 p.m. contest.