Mustangs earn spot in GPAC Championship with sweep of Dordt

JAMESTOWN, N.D. – For the first time in program history, the Morningside men's volleyball team is in the GPAC Championship match after sweeping Dordt 25-21, 25-20, 25-14 Friday in the semifinals in Jamestown, N.D.

Morningside and Dordt played in the semifinals last season, and it was the Defenders who made the championship, but the Mustangs got their revenge. 

The Mustangs withstood late rallies from the Defenders in the first two sets. Morningside totaled 18 kills and hit .455 in the first set, compared to .310 for Dordt. Both teams struggled in the second set compared to the opening one, committing 10 attacking errors each. Morningside managed six more kills than the Defenders in the set though, earning the 25-20 win.

The Mustangs turned up the pressure in the third set to seal the sweep. While Dordt managed eight kills and eight assists in set three, the Mustangs were hard to stop, tallying 14 kills to just two errors, finishing the set with an impressive .545 hitting percentage. 

Natan Alves and Kirby Schmalz tallied 11 kills apiece. Tharen Cox and Isaiah Baynes added eight kills each. Baynes also racked up 11 digs to lead the team. Jacob DePauw recorded 36 assists and Owen Anderson 10 digs. 

As a team, Morningside had 17 more kills and a .313 hitting percentage. Defensively, the Mustangs managed to prevent the Defenders from building much momentum, as Dordt hit .072 for the match.

Morningside now plays in the GPAC Championship match against Jamestown at 3 p.m. Saturday in Jamestown.