Mustangs Dominate Late to Defeat Defenders

CEDAR RAPIDS, Iowa — Mount Mercy's men's volleyball team secured a 3-1 victory over the Dordt Defenders on Saturday afternoon at Hennessey Recreation Center.

The Mustangs edged out the Defenders in a tightly contested first set, winning 29-27 after recording 16 kills while hitting .433. Dordt responded in set two, limiting Mount Mercy to a .081 hitting percentage and securing a 26-24 win to even the match at one set apiece.

Mount Mercy regained momentum in the third, dominating with a 25-13 victory despite a .188 hitting percentage. The Mustangs then sealed the match in convincing fashion, hitting .556 in the fourth set for a 25-11 win. The Mount Mercy defense stifled Dordt's attack, holding the Defenders to just six kills and a -.118 hitting percentage in the final frame.

Guglielmo Illotti led the Mustangs with 17 kills while hitting .233 and adding eight digs. Pere Font Torres contributed 12 kills on an efficient .667 hitting percentage, along with five digs. Gabor Toth also tallied 12 kills, while Gustavo Kehl Bauer powered the offense with 40 assists and 13 digs. Richard Struska anchored the defense with 16 digs.

Andres Guzman led the Defenders with 13 kills, hitting .119, while Joel Van Groningen added 10 kills with a .350 hitting percentage. Lukas Van Groningen dished out 36 assists and collected eight digs, while Brady Fergen paced the Dordt defense with 14 digs.

Mount Mercy (19-4, 13-3 HEART) will be back in action on Friday, April 4, as they travel to face off with Culver-Stockton starting at 6:00 p.m.