Mustangs trade road sweeps in Missouri

MARSHALL, Mo. / FAYETTE, Mo. - The Mount Mercy women's volleyball team continued their four-match Heart of America Athletic Conference road stint over the weekend against Missouri Valley and 20th-ranked Central Methodist. The Mustangs swept the Vikings 3-0 at the Burns Athletic Center on Friday evening before falling in straight sets to the Eagles on Saturday morning inside the Puckett Field House. 

The Mustangs put up their second-highest offensive performance of the season against Missouri Valley (7-8, 1-3 Heart), hitting .299 as a team. Madi Havermann hit .579 on 11 kills and zero miscues, to pace all players. Her counterpart, Jenna Brown finished at. 500 with six kills. The duo combined for 11 of Mount Mercy's 19 blocks as well. Mackenzie Murphy tallied 10 kills and Katie Kopriva eight from the hands of Hailey Hested who dished out 31 assists to lead the Mustang attack. With the 25-21, 25-13, and 25-18 rout, the Mustangs held the Vikings to a .101 attack percentage. 

Mount Mercy and Central Methodist (11-5, 5-1 Heart) were all notched up 13-13 before the Eagles were able to create some separation. The Mustangs got within one after a block from Brown and Murphy, but the 20th-ranked Eagles responded with two kills and an ace to take set one, 25-21. The Mustangs dropped the next two sets 25-18 and 25-19 despite holding an eight to four block advantage. Murphy finished with a double-double of 10 kills and 12 digs. Havermann added seven kills and Hallie Bedier six. Rylie Mussman finished with 14 digs for the second straight match. 

Mount Mercy (11-5, 4-2 Heart) hosts Grand View (5-9, 5-1 Heart) on Tuesday, Sept. 26 inside Hennessey Rec Center. The first serve is slated for 7:00 pm.