Mustangs rout Vikings in straight sets

CEDAR RAPIDS, Iowa - The Mount Mercy women's volleyball team put on a show after returning home from four away matches. The Mustangs controlled the momentum from the get go, leading to the sweep of Grand View 25-22, 25-19, and 25-18 inside Hennessey Rec Center for a Heart of America Conference clash tonight. 

Mount Mercy got better every set, including an 18-kill third set on a blistering .302 attack percentage - compared to just .071 for Grand View. The Vikings hung around during the first set, not allowing the Mustangs to build a lead greater than five. A three-point swing brought Grand View within one, 23-22, but a Viking error set up Mackenzie Murphy for the final kill. 

The Mustangs never trailed in the second set and led by as many as eight after an ace and kill, both from Cassidy Boche. The third set nearly mirrored the second in that Mount Mercy was locked in and did not surrender the lead. Kendall McNaull was huge off the bench, producing two kills and a timely block in her first action of the night in the third set. Mount Mercy sealed the deal with a block by Jenna Brown and Katie Kopriva, for their sixth sweep of the season. 

Grand View (5-10, 5-2 Heart) was held to a .060 attack percentage and nobody reached double figures due to the 15-7 block advantage in favor of Mount Mercy. Murphy totaled 12 kills, 12 digs, and three blocks. Brown added 10 kills and three blocks as well. Kopriva tallied nine kills and nine digs to go along with three blocks. Madi Havermann also joined the block party with four of her own. Boche added seven kills and five digs plus an ace. Hailey Hested dished out 36 assists to six Mustangs. It was Rylie Mussman and Baylee Russ on the defensive side who recorded 18 and eight digs, respectively. 

Mount Mercy (12-5, 5-2 Heart) goes back on the road for a quick trip to Clarke (3-17, 2-6 Heart) on Friday, Sept. 29 for a Heart matchup. The Mustangs and Pride come your way at 7:00 pm from the Kehl Center in Dubuque, Iowa.