Mustangs leave Cougars cowering, tangle with Threshers in opening day of Labor Day Classic

NORTH SIOUX CITY, S.D. – Morningside Women's Volleyball picked up where it left off at Dordt on Wednesday, handing Saint Francis' Cougars a 3-0 loss to kick off its schedule at the College of Saint Mary/United Sports Academy Labor Day Classic. The Mustangs closed day one of action with a 3-1 victory over the Bethel Threshers.

Morningside's strong start to the day came in a 25-13, 25-16, 25-18 sweep, just the second three-set victory for the Mustangs this season. Three Morningsiders notched double-digit kills in the match, with Sydney Marlow's 11 kills at a .500 attack percentage overshadowing Payten Lode's 11 and .357 and Claire Wilson's 10 kills and .333 attack percentage. Katherine Miller had seven kills at a team-leading .636 rate, helping push to a team total of 43 kills and .413 percentage. Aleksandra Dalach dished the ball for 34 assists. She also had four of the team's six aces.

Aureana Bernales took the top spot in Morningside's back row in the opener, scooping 12 digs. Payton Shoquist with 11, and Lode had nine. The defense at the net knocked down five balls for points, with Victoria Bouska swatting for a solo block and three block assists. Wilson followed with a pair of block assists.

The Mustangs began their nightcap with Bethel on the right foot, taking set one 25-21. Adjustments by the Threshers saw Morningside fall behind in set two, fighting back to a 25-21 loss before taking set no. 3, 25-17 and set no. 4 25-21.

Nienke van Drunen hit a team-high .467 for eight kills in 15 attempts. Marlow hit .283 while striking for 19 kills. Dalach tacked another 41 assists onto her total for the day in the four-setter.

Lode, Bouska, and Dalach led the defensive side of the net, with three blocks each. Lode had a solo block and two block assists, while Bouska and Dalach had three block assists each. As a team the Mustangs tallied six total blocks.

Shoquist was on top in the back row in the nightcap, fighting for 18 digs. Marlow added 10 to the tally, and Wilson had seven.

Morningside hits the floor again tomorrow at 11 a.m. playing Viterbo, with a break before facing Indiana University East at 7 p.m.