Mustangs fall in five set thriller with Missouri Valley

Photo by Jonah Gleason, Morningside Sports Information Intern

SIOUX CITY, Iowa – Late Saturday morning, Morningside found themselves heading into a fifth set against a team receiving votes nationally for the third time in this young season. Ultimately, it was (RV) Missouri Valley who walked away with the 16-25, 25-22, 25-14, 22-25, 15-11 victory over the Mustangs.

The Mustangs started out hot, hitting for their best percentage of the match (.188) in the first set. Defensively, the Mustangs held Missouri Valley to .029 in the set to take the early lead. 

The Vikings responded by taking the next two sets with command of their offense, hitting .258 and .360 with 13 and 12 kills in each set respectively. The Mustangs showed fight in the second set, recording 12 kills on 39 attacks, but ultimately came up short. Morningside won the fourth set, but fell behind early in the fifth and were unable to complete the comeback victory.

For the second straight day, a Mustang entered the record books as Tharen Cox tied the program record for block assists in a five set match with 10 Saturday. The record was originally set in 2016 by Jacob Brand, also against Missouri Valley. Cox also had seven kills in the match. 

Isaiah Baynes had a team-high 16 kills and Nata Alves added 11 kills and 11 digs for a double-double. Alves was three blocks shy of a triple-double, recording eight total blocks (seven assists, one solo). Jacob DePauw tallied 42 assists and Owen Anderson added 13 digs to go over 500 in his career with the Mustangs.

Morningside is back in action against Viterbo Saturday inside the Rosen Verdoorn Sports Center and Allee Gymnasium. First serve is scheduled for Noon.