Mustangs sink Vikings at home

CEDAR RAPIDS, Iowa -- For just the second time in program history, the Mount Mercy men's volleyball team defeated Grand View and did so in convincing fashion, knocking off the fourth-ranked Vikings, 15-25, 26-24, 25-23, 25-17 in a Heart of America Athletic Conference match on Tuesday night at Hennessey Recreation Center.

Grand View (16-5, 10-3 Heart) appeared to be in control after dominating a first set that saw Mount Mercy (21-5, 8-5 Heart) finish with as many attack errors as kills (9). The Mustangs came to play after that, out-hitting the Vikings in two of the remaining three sets to get their second win over Grand View and the first at home. Mount Mercy won in Des Moines in 2019.

While picking up their fourth win in a row, the Mustangs finished with 11 service aces, including seven by Akeel Oxley. He also had a team-high 14 kills to go along with seven digs and three blocks. Colin Castelnau added 11 kills while Bo Brainerd tallied nine kills and a match-best six blocks. Raphael Massara and Alessandro Spendolini recorded five blocks each, Johann Schopsdau had 11 digs, and Rafael Vieyra totaled 36 assists and seven digs.

Mount Mercy has three straight matches on the road, beginning with a key Heart showdown with 12th-ranked Missouri Valley (15-4, 8-4 Heart) on Friday at 7:00 pm in Marshall, Mo. The Mustangs will be at Culver-Stockton on Saturday at 2:00 pm.