Gritty Mustangs unable to upset no. 15 Viterbo

LA CROSSE, WIS. – Morningside Women's Volleyball's fought valiantly at no. 15 Viterbo, today, taking the opening set and fighting until the end as they fell 3-1 to the V-Hawks in the National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics Women's Volleyball National Championship Opening Round.

Morningside started the day with a solid victory in set one, hitting .311 on the way to a 25-20 victory. The Mustangs' attack would cool off in the three sets to come, hitting .168 on the day, with scores of 25-13, 25-20, and 25-23, all in favor of Viterbo.

Sydney Marlow led the Mustangs with 18 kills. Payten Lode followed with 10, Claire Wilson had seven, and Nienke van Drunen notched six kills. Marlow hit a team-high .372, with just two errors on the day. Aleksandra Dalach and Kyla Dyrstad split setting duties on the day, with Dalach taking 25 assists and Dyrstad picking up 22.

Morningside mustered five total blocks, all via block assist, to shape the Mustangs defense at the net. Wilson and Adelyn Harris led the way, with four block assists each. Van Drunen and Marlow accounted for the remaining pair of block assists.

Behind the block, Taya Phillips had 14 digs to lead Morningside. Lode followed with 12, Dyrstad had nine, Aureana Bernales eight, and Marlow and Quinn Groves each had six.

The Mustangs' season concludes at 22-11, with a 10-6 Great Plains Athletic Conference record.