Kopriva, Peters propel Mustangs forward

CEDAR RAPIDS, Iowa - During homecoming weekend at Mount Mercy, the women's volleyball team split their Heart of America Athletic Conference matches. The Mustangs fell to 16th-ranked Central Methodist (Mo.) in a Saturday matinee before a bounce-back win against Missouri Valley earlier today at Hennessey Rec. Center.

Three straight kills from Katie Kopriva, Lexi Klinkkammer, and Maggie Peters brought Mount Mercy within one, 14-13 in the first set on Saturday. Central Methodist (11-4, 5-3 Heart) always had an answer when the Mustangs got within striking distance, taking the momentum and set one, 25-21. In the second and third sets, Mount Mercy struggled to find their offense, not reaching double-digit kills in either set. Meanwhile, Central Methodist only continued to heat up, boosting their hitting percentage every set. Mount Mercy dropped the final two sets, 25-15 and 25-12. Hailey Hested had a match high 23 assists as nine different Mustangs recorded a kill, led by Kopriva with seven.

Mount Mercy came out with a lot of energy in the first set against Missouri Valley. The Mustangs created a 10-4 lead after a kill from Cassidy Boche and increased their lead after back-to-back-to-back kills from Kopriva, making it 18-7. Mount Mercy would go on to take the first set 25-15. Once again, the Mustangs created separation leading by as many as six in the second set. Missouri Valley (11-11, 2-6 Heart) didn't go away, getting within two down the stretch at 21-19. Mount Mercy got kills from Kopriva and Klinkkammer and took advantage of two Viking errors for the set two 25-19 win. 

It looked as if the Mustangs were going to cruise to a three-set win but the Vikings had other plans. Missouri Valley broke a seven all tie with a 12-4 run for the 19-11 lead. Mount Mercy could not dig themselves out of that hole and dropped the third set 25-19. After the wake-up call, the Mustangs responded in the fourth set, taking a commanding 19-12 lead and never looked back. A Peters kill made it 21-15 and forced a Viking timeout. After the timeout, Peters landed a solo block, Jenna Brown served an ace, Peters recorded another kill, and Brown ended the game with another ace. Peters hit an outstanding .478 on the match, totaling 14 kills. It's her sixth game hitting over the .400 mark this season to lead the Mustangs. Kopriva and Klinkkammer each added 10 kills. Four Mustangs recorded double-digit digs. Rylie Mussman lead the way with 26, Hested finished with 20 to tie a career high, Kopriva added 16, and Klinkkammer 13. 

Mount Mercy (12-4, 5-3 Heart) will be on the road all week for three north division Heart contests. The Mustangs travel to Dubuque on Tuesday, Sept. 27th for a match against Clarke (3-12, 0-8 Heart). The first serve is at 7:00 pm inside the Kehl Center.