Morningside toughs it out over Doane

SIOUX CITY, Iowa – Morningside University women's volleyball team head coach Jessica Squier thought her team showed a lot of toughness on Saturday.

After facing three tough opponents in Great Plains Athletic Conference play, the Mustangs swept Doane 25-19, 25-18, 25-13 at Rosen Verdoorn Sports Center.

"To come around and dominate like we did in this fashion, it shows a ton of toughness," Squier said.

Morningside led by as many as eight points in the first set, as it had multiple three-point rallies in the set. Nienke van Drunen closed out the set with a kill, assisted by Aleksandra Dalach.

In Set 2, the Mustangs closed it out with a three-point rally. After two Doane errors, Sydney Marlow clinched the set with a kill. Dalach had the assist there, too.

The Mustangs built an 18-5 lead in the third set, as they hit .233 during the stanza. Overall, Morningside hit .217.

Marlow led the Mustangs with 12 kills, and she had two assisted blocks. Claire Wilson – who was given a special golden ball before the match for her 1,000th kill earlier in the season – added seven to her career.

Dalach topped the Mustangs with 27 assists.

Aureana Bernales had a match-high 18 digs, while Peyten Lode had 10.

The Mustangs had three solo blocks – one each from Lode, Adelyn Harris, and Wilson – and 14 assisted blocks.

The Mustangs also played a little harder for a special little girl on Saturday. The Mustangs recognized Rosie Kubik, who has battled a form of leukemia and continues to fight Acute Flaccid Myelitis. Squier sent a FaceTime to Rosie and her family before the game and the crowd stood in support with a standing ovation.