Mustangs wrap season with victory over no. 22 Dordt

Photo by Lauren Hedlund, Morningside Sports Information Intern

SIOUX CITY, IOWA – Morningside celebrated senior night tonight, recognizing lone senior, Ryley Rolls, ahead of the season finale between Morningside and the no. 22 Dordt Defenders. The Mustangs ground out a 3-2 win, 20-25, 25-11, 12-25, 25-21, and 15-11.

After a slow start in set one, the Mustangs were nearly flawless in set two, striking for 12 kills with just one hitting error, hitting .423 in the set. Morningside would finish with a .175 hitting percentage, recording a team total 57 kills.

Dordt turned the tables in set three, recording its own one-error set, taking the 2-1 set advantage, forcing Morningside to run the table if it wanted to collect a win.

After the Mustangs took a 25-21 win in set three, they took an 8-5 lead in the deciding set to prompt the turn. Payten Lode struck for a kill to prompt a Dordt timeout, giving Morningside a 9-5 advantage. 

Out of the time out, Dordt took the next point, but Claire Wilson hammered a kill to keep the Defenders from going on a run. The Defenders strung together the next two points, to close the gap to 10-8, when Sydney Marlow gave Morningside an 11-8 lead. 

Another kill for Dordt was answered by a three-point run for the Mustangs, with kills by Marlow and DePauw to give the home team set point. The no. 22 team in the country wasn't going to go away without a fight, taking the next two points before Morningside called a time out. 

Out of the time out, the two teams exchanged attacks, building the anticipation as the noise level grew in Allee Gym, erupting as Morningside scored match point.

Wilson led Morningside's attack, collecting 20 terminations and hitting .245. Marlow followed with 15 kills and Lode had 12. Gillian DePauw recorded 47 assists in the match.

The Mustang mining crew was co-led by Aureana Bernales and DePauw, with 15 each. Wilson had 14, and Payton Shoquist had 11.

The defensive front was led by Nienke Van Drunen, who had six blocks. Kylah Brewer had two solo blocks and a block assist and Wilson had three block assists.

The Mustangs conclude the season with an 11-20 overall record and a 5-11 Great Plains Athletic Conference record.