Mustangs fall to No. 9 Jimmies on the road

JAMESTOWN, N.D. – In a battle of the top two teams in the GPAC entering play Thursday, the No. 9 Jamestown Jimmies earned a sweep of Morningside in Jamestown.

The Mustangs (15-13, 6-3) couldn't hand the Jimmies (17-1, 8-0) their first conference loss of the season, falling 16-25, 21-25, 14-25. 

The Mustangs improved their offensive efficiency in each set, going from a .036 hitting percentage in set one to a .130 in set three, but the Jimmies were too strong, hitting .368 as a team.

Morningside had a balanced attack in the loss as Tharen Cox recorded eight kills and Natan Alves and Isaiah Baynes totaled seven each. Jacob DePauw recorded 22 assists and needs 37 more to surpass 1,000 on the season. Owen Anderson led teh team at the service line, recording two aces, and added six digs. Alves picked up six digs and Baynes, the GPAC Defender of the Week, added five digs. 

Morningside has one match remaining in the 2024 regular season. The Mustangs head to Dordt for a battle for second place in the GPAC and a first round bye in the GPAC Tournament. The Mustangs and Defenders will square off in Sioux Center at 3 p.m. Saturday.