Brown, Mustangs step up in five-set victory over Wildcats

CANTON, Mo. - In a must win situation to build their postseason resume, the Mount Mercy women's volleyball did exactly that earlier tonight, defeating Culver-Stockton (Mo.) 3-2 inside Charles Field House. 

The Wildcats and Mustangs were notched up at 16 all in the first set, but Culver-Stockton got a big block out of a timeout to take the lead for good and the set 25-21. After dropping the first set, Mount Mercy responded with a 20-8 lead after an Izzie McKinley ace. Consecutive kills from Maggie Peters and Mackenzie Murphy gave set two to the Mustangs, 25-13. 

Mount Mercy carried the momentum into the third set, building another early lead at 8-4 and extending it to 17-10 before a Culver-Stockton timeout. A block from Jenna Brown and Katie Kopriva made it 25-14 and the Mustangs went up 2-1. The Wildcats came out strong in the fourth set, shifting the momentum by rattling off the first 10 points before Mount Mercy was able to get on the board. The Mustangs used three little runs to crawl back into the game and tie it at 17-17. Culver-Stockton (17-9, 9-8 Heart) went to their senior, Madison McClain down the stretch. She had two timely kills including the set point for the 25-21 win to force a final set. 

The two teams traded points until the 7-7 mark as there were six ties and four lead changes. Peters drilled back-to-back kills giving Mount Mercy the separation they needed. The Wildcats would get withing one at 11-10, but Brown answered and tied her career high with her 14th kill of the night. Mount Mercy recorded the final three points making it 15-10, for their seventh five-set win of the season. 

Brown hit a blistering .650 on 14 kills and two blocks. Murphy, Kopriva, and Peters were all in double digits with 15, 12, and 11 kills, respectively. McKinley finished with five of Mount Mercy's 14 aces compared to Culver-Stockton's five. In her first game back from an ankle injury, Hailey Hested goes over the 50-assist mark, for the first time this season. She finished with 51 assists to go along with 11 digs, three kills, two aces, and a block. Kopriva added 16 digs and Rylie Mussman 15. 

Mount Mercy (19-8, 11-7 Heart) will celebrate Senior Night in their regular season finale on Tuesday, Nov. 1 as they host Clarke (4-21, 1-6 Heart) at 7:00 pm at Hennessey Rec. Center.