Late set rallies lifts Mustangs past No. 10 Midland

SIOUX CITY, Iowa – Having the No. 1 team in the country looming on Saturday, the Mustangs didn't overlook Friday's match with No. 10 Midland, sweeping the Warriors 26-24, 25-23, 25-22 inside Allee Gym.

The Mustangs had to overcome deficits of five or more in both the first and third sets, but that didn't stop them from securing a much-needed conference victory.

Riding high off a win Wednesday night at home, the Mustangs hit .406 in the opening set Friday night to win 26-24 and start the match out up one.

Midland scored the first five points of set one, and led 9-3 early on. Morningside went on to score 12 of the next 16 points to take a 15-13 lead. The Mustangs weren't in the clear though, as the two teams traded three point runs to make it 19-18 Warriors.

After a timeout from head coach Jessica Squier, the Mustangs evened the set at 19 on a kill from Nienke van Drunen. Squier called her second timeout of the set after a Warriors kill made it 23-22. The Mustangs score four of the final five points in the set coming out of the timeout, capped by a kill from Sydney Marlow, and won the set.

The second set was tighter throughout, as after a Morningside 12-7 lead, neither team could build a lead of more than three. Midland scraped back to even at 16-16, and regained the lead on a 3-0 run at 19-17. With Midland leading 21-19, the Mustangs scored six of the final eight points to close the book on set two, 25-22. A block from Claire Wilson and van Drunen was the final point.

The Mustangs would need another comeback in the third set if they wanted to complete the sweep. With things tied at 10, the Warriors went on a five-point run to open a 15-10 lead. Morningside wouldn't get back within two until a Payten Lode kill made it 19-17, Warriors still ahead. 

Midland called a timeout and scored two points out of the timeout to hold a 21-17 lead, looking to force a fourth set. The tides turned ont he following point, as a Wilson kill sparked the Mustangs, who scored the next seven points to take a 24-21 lead. The Warriors got a kill to get back within two, but the damage was done, as a serve into the net gave Morningside the set win.

The Mustangs hit at a .238 percentage in the match, compared to .187 for the Warriors. Marlow totaled 15 kills to lead the match. Lode added 10 kills and eight digs. Aleksandra Dalach tallied 36 assists and Payton Shoquist 14 digs. 

The Mustangs have another big test Saturday, as they host No. 1 Concordia at 3 p.m.