Mustangs lose battle for second to Defenders Saturday

SIOUX CENTER, Iowa – With second place in the GPAC and a first round bye in the conference tournament on the line, Morningside made the short trip to Dordt to face the Defenders Saturday. Dordt prevailed in four sets, with each of the four sets ending 25-21. 

The Mustangs modeled consistency throughout the match, hitting between .200 and .300 in each set of the match. Morningside finished with nine more kills and a higher overall hitting percentage than the Defenders, but Dordt made the deficit up at the service line. Morningside totaled 21 service errors and six reception errors to four ace serves. Dordt had six ace serves, but 10 errors and four reception errors. 

Natan Alves and Kirby Schmalz were Jacob DePauw's go-to attackers Alves totaled 19 kills and 13 digs for a double-double. Schmalz was a dig away from the double-double with 17 kills and nine digs. Jacob DePauw totaled 42 assists and 10 digs and Owen Anderson tied Alves for the team lead with 13 digs. Tharen Cox had six block assists and Alves had four. 

The Mustangs secured the No. 3 seed in the GPAC Tournament. That will give Morningside a home match with Central Christian on April 13. Time is to be announced.