Mustangs open pool play at nationals

CEDAR RAPIDS, Iowa -- Ninth-seeded Mount Mercy opened pool play against top-seeded The Master's in their national tournament debut, falling in three sets, 25-18, 25-16, 25-14, in the final match of day one at the NAIA Men's Volleyball Championship at Alliant Energy PowerHouse.

Bo Brainerd led the Mustangs (24-9) offensively with five kills to go along with a team-best four total blocks. Akeel Oxley and Colin Castelnau added four kills each, Raphael Massara and Alessandro Spendolini three apiece. Castelnau and Johann Schopsdau each had a team-high seven digs while Rafael Vieyra finished with 15 assists.

The Master's (24-2) had two players with double-digit kills. Cole Oliver tallied 11 and Braden Van Groningen 10. Oliver and Isaac Seltzer each had six digs, Patrick Paragas 33 assists. Seltzer and Will Avera finished with four blocks apiece, Oliver collected three.

Mount Mercy takes on eighth-seeded Jamestown (21-1) in more pool play action on Wednesday at 7:00 pm. Pool play wraps up on Thursday, with the national semifinals set for Friday at 4:00 and 7:30 pm, and the championship match on Saturday at 5:00 pm.