Mustangs Dominate Pride in Regular Season Finale

DUBUQUE, Iowa — Mount Mercy Mustangs (21-3, 16-3) wrapped up their regular season with a commanding 3-0 win over the Clarke Pride (8-20, 4-15) on Tuesday night, clinching it with set scores of 25-17, 25-7, 25-19. The Mustangs delivered 14 service aces, showcasing their dominant form as they now gear up for Saturday's quarterfinal match, opponent and time still on the docket.

The Mustangs set the tone early in the first set with sharp serving and strong net play, earning a 25-17 win. Guglielmo Illotti spearheaded the offense with six kills, thanks to the precise setups by Gustavo Kehl Bauer, who was on point with his assists.

Service aces were key, with Raphael Massara and Illotti fueling a run that widened the gap to 11-5. Defensively, Mount Mercy's blocks forced Clarke into multiple attack errors, keeping the Pride from gaining any momentum.

In the second set, Mount Mercy steamrolled to a 25-7 victory, driven by a blistering serving display. Gabor Toth was pivotal, dishing out four service aces during an 8-0 streak that extended their lead to 9-1. Kehl Bauer continued to shine, setting up a key kill by Matthew Krzos. Clarke found themselves unable to respond, hampered by attack errors that widened the chasm.

The third set saw Mount Mercy continue their service onslaught, securing a 25-19 win. Richard Struska delivered three service aces during a critical 7-0 run, helping establish an insurmountable lead. Brian Lynch led the attack with a flurry of kills, expertly set up by Alexandre Jette, who was consistent with his assists. Clarke made a late push with key blocks by Nolan Amdur and Tanner May, but the Mustangs held firm to seal the set.

Struska's four aces across the match were a standout, while Toth added five aces and four kills, hitting .250 over two sets. Krzos was flawless with four kills on four attempts, achieving a perfect 1.000 hitting percentage. Illotti was unstoppable, racking up 10 kills without an error on 15 swings, closing with a .667 hitting percentage.

For the Pride, Amdur led with six blocks and two kills, while Dustin Kuner added five blocks, including one solo. May was also a key contributor with six blocks and three kills. Benjamin Reiser facilitated the offense with 10 assists and five digs, demonstrating his versatility and impact.

The Mustangs boast an impressive 21-3 overall record and a 16-3 mark in conference play, while the Pride concludes at 8-20 overall and 4-15 in conference action.