Mustangs upset Midland

FREMONT, NEB. – Bouncing back from a close-knit mid-week loss at Briar Cliff Sept. 25 and evening the series with Midland were on Morningside's to-do list when they took to the road to visit Midland University Saturday, Sept. 28.

The Mustangs came to play, toppling the National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics' No. 20-ranked program in five sets, 25-22, 26-28, 25-21, 23-25, and 15-5. Morningside moved to 11-5 on the season and 3-3 record in Great Plains Athletic Conference, collecting win No. 700 in Morningside's program history. The win ended Midland's five-game winning streak and handed them their first conference loss.

"Today's win was a huge confidence boost for us. We were tested multiple times, but I thought our mental game was a ton better today," reflected head coach Beth Donnelly.

The Mustangs exchanged blows with Midland throughout the afternoon, opening up a four-point lead at one point, but unable to completely pull away from the Warriors, as they fought their way back to a two-point deficit.

Set two went the way of Midland, with Morningside taking the lead on several occasions and forcing the score to run to 28-26.

The Mustangs wasted no time coming out of the break, stretching out to a seven-point lead at one point. Morningside never trailed in the set, scoring first, and not looking back after a 1-1 tie.

Midland took set four, jockeying back and forth with Morningside taking the lead for good at 23-22.

The Mustangs came out swinging in set five, never trailing in the set, and going on an eight-point run to leave Midland in the dust 12-3. Morningside would give up just two points after switching courts on the way to the 15-5 victory.

"Our serving was a big difference in set five. We were putting pressure on their passers and getting a ton of free balls back so we could set up the offense," said Donnelly. "Midland is a solid passing team. So for us to rattle them says a lot."

Morningside's attack was led by Krista Zenk (JR/Le Mars, IA) with 19 kills and a .351 hitting percentage. Emma Gerber (SR/Worthington, MN) had 15 kills, Brittni Olson (SR/Sioux City, IA) had 11 while hitting .333, and Caitlin Makovicka (JR/Ceresco, NE) had ten kills. Sophomore Sabrina Creason (SO/Shawnee Mission, KS) had 55 of the Mustangs' 60 assists in the match. Makovicka and Kayla Harris (SO/Dakota City, NE) each had two aces while Creason had one on the way to the Mustangs' total of five.

Morningside totaled 70 digs in the set, led by Harris with 25, Makovicka with 11, Creason with nine, and Merrin Van Velzen (JR/Sergeant Bluff, IA) and Ashley Boer (JR/Rock Rapids, IA) with eight each. The visitors in the match had just four receiving errors on the day.

Back at the net, the Mustangs had a total of 13 team blocks, led by Gerber with three solo blocks and five block assists. Olson had one solo stuff and three assists.

"I think our defensive intensity started in the first few points with Britt blocking at the net. She was reading the setter well and getting touches on anything that came across the net," analyzed Donnelly. "That is frustrating for a hitter and Gerber picked up where Britt left off when she rotated in."

The Mustangs look to even the season series as they travel to College of Saint Mary on Wednesday, Oct. 2, with the junior varsity match at 6:00 and varsity at 7:30 inside CSM's Lied Fitness Center.