[Women's Volleyball] Two Road Matches Slip Away from Mustangs
Baldwin City/Atchison, Kan. - In a weekend road trip to Kansas, the Mustangs would battle against two Heart of America Conference opponents. After falling to Baker University Saturday evening, the Mustangs would lose a heartbreaker to Benedictine College less than 24 hours later on Sunday afternoon. The Mustangs dropped another weekend of away conference play. Mount Mercy moves to 14-9 overall and 3-7 in the Heart of America Conference.
On Saturday, September 29, the Mustangs would duel the Wildcats to take the first set 26-24. Despite a strong offensive effort, The next three sets would be in favor of the home team. The Mustangs fell by the score 1-3 (26-24, 16-25, 20-25, 17-25). Three Mustangs produced double digits in the kills category. Maddie Bell (SO/Ely, Iowa) would tally 11 kills hitting an impressive .423 while also putting up three solo blocks. Torie Alexander (FR/Cedar, Iowa) and Becca Thomson (SR/Rock Island, Ill.) would also contribute 11 kills with Alyssa Weldon (JR/Oxford, Iowa) adding seven. Kayla Daggett (SO/Madison, Wis.) returned to the action after an injury that put her out four matches. She would total 38 assists. Lauren Stopko (SR/Tiffin, Iowa) commanded the defense with 23 digs. Gabi Desling and Weldon followed up with 14 and 12 digs respectively.
On Sunday, September 30, the Mustangs began their ascent home but not before stopping to face off against the Ravens of Benedictine College. With a slow start to the noon match, the Mustangs would quickly fall behind 0-2. However, they were not ready to hop on the bus back home just yet. The Mustangs would come back to win the third set 25-15 to force a fourth set. Giving it their all, the Mustangs were unable to take it to a final fifth set as they had the fourth set stolen from them 28-30. Thomson and Daggett would lead the offense with 14 digs and 31 assists respectively. Olivia Makinen (FR/Beloit, Wis.) would put up three successful block assists. Per usual, Stopko would lead the team with 14 digs.
Over the weekend, the Mustangs tallied 80 kills, 72 assists, 127 digs, and 10 blocks. Thomson would have a weekend-high 25 kills, Daggett would total 69 assists, Stopko had 37 digs, and Bell would lead the team with three solo blocks and two block assists. Up next, the Mustangs will have a home weekend of conference play hosting MidAmerica Nazarene University on Friday, Oct. 5 at 7:00 P.M. and No. 24 Central Methodist University on Saturday, Oct. 6 at 2:00 P.M. in the Hennessey Rec Center.