Mustangs fall, continue to improve, in DWU match

SIOUX CITY, IOWA – Morningside was hoping to bounce back from a midweek loss as it took the floor in its last chance to pick up a win during homecoming week.  The opponent for the evening, the no. 13 ranked Tigers from Dakota Wesleyan, gave the Mustangs a fight, defeating the home team in straight sets, 25-23, 25-18, and 25-18.

Despite the absence of the notch in the wins column, the Mustangs did seize the opportunity to remind themselves and those in attendance that they can compete with anyone in the conference, regardless of the national rankings.  

The evening started with a set that saw the Mustangs take the lead on an Emerson Smith ace, breaking an 8-8 tie.  Several points later, a run, started with a kill by Meredith Hoffman followed by a Lindi Pojar ace and back to back kills by Smith, saw Morningside reach its largest lead of the night, up 20-14.  

The Tigers would remind those in attendance that you don't reach a 15-2 record without some discipline, as they buckled down and worked their way back into the set, tying the score at 23, and pushing on to win the set.

"We are so young that girls are making big strides in development every week," coach Jessica Squier explained.  

"After losing set one, we refocused on controlling the things that the girls know they can control," she added.

Morningside got on the board first in set two, with the first score recorded on a block by Hoffman.  The teams exchanged blows, feeling each other out, before DWU would go on a four point run.  A kill by Kenna Howard would snap the streak, as Morningside worked swiftly and strongly, with an increased presence at the middle of the net.

"We did work the rotation so that it would match up with theirs," said Squier, "but we also passed the ball very well, which allowed Sabrina more flexibility in moving the ball around and finding openings in their defense."

Down 16-11, the Mustangs would mount a comeback, with Smith recording a pair of kills and Claire Wilson recording one of her own, but unable to close the gap, they'd record just a few more points through the end of the set.

Morningside started set three strong again, with Hoffman and Sabrina Creason recording the first kills for the Mustangs.  The home team would stay close to the visitors, catching up thanks to a four point run, which included a pair of blocks for the Mustang defense.  A pair of points later in the set, with a Sydney Marlow kill and another block by Hoffman and Howard, would bring Morningside to the end of the match, as Dakota Wesleyan took five of the last six points to cruise to victory.

Morningside's offense was championed by Emerson Smith, with a team-high 11 kills.  Marlow and Hoffman followed, with nine and eight kills, respectively.  Creason was just short of her season-high, with 36 assists in the three sets.  

Smith, Creason, and Lindi Pojar each had an ace, rounding out the Mustangs' offensive highs.

The Mustang defense recorded six blocks in the match, with Meredith Hoffman having the most bricks in the wall, recording the team's lone solo block and three block assists.  Howard and Smith each had two block assists.

Morningside's passing corps was led by Payton Shoquist, Sydney Marlow, and Emerson Smith, each recording 15 digs.  Creason added nine digs of her own, and Kendall Evans had eight.

The Mustangs take to the road this week, visiting Dordt and Doane.  Wednesday's match in Sioux Center is scheduled for 7:30 p.m., following a 6 p.m. JV match.