Dominant fourth leads to another five-set victory

OSKALOOSA, Iowa - Exactly two weeks after losing to William Penn in five sets on their home court, the Mount Mercy women's volleyball team returned the favor tonight, defeating the Statesmen in five (21-25, 25-21, 21-25, 25-12, 15-9) inside the Penn Activity Center during a Heart of America Athletic Conference contest. 

The first three sets featured identical scores with the two teams trading victories. It was not until the fourth set that Mount Mercy was able to create momentum. The Mustangs used a series of runs to cruise to a dominant and much needed win since being down two sets to one. Mount Mercy broke a 2-2 tie with a six-point swing, scored five straight later on in the set, increasing their lead to 22-10. The Mustangs recorded the final three points after a Hallie Bedier kill, a block from Kendall McNaull and Hailey Hested, and kill off the arm of McNaull for the 13-point win. 

Despite the slow fourth set, the Statesmen jumped out to a 6-3 lead in the final set. Mount Mercy was not able to level the set until the 8-8 mark, getting two timely blocks from Madi Havermann and Katie Kopriva to force a William Penn timeout. The Mustangs did not stop there, rattling off the next four points before the Statesmen were able to side out. Murphy added to her career total of aces with two in that span. The 7-0 run was too much for William Penn to overcome as Mount Mercy used a kill and block to close out the match. 

William Penn (15-14, 9-6 Heart) out-blocked Mount Mercy 22-20, but the Mustangs led every other statistical category. Kopriva, Murphy, and Hested all finished with double-doubles: Kopriva with 14 kills and 10 digs, Murphy with 13 kills and 14 digs, and Hested with 48 assists and 12 digs. Havermann added nine kills on a .389% hitting percentage to go along with six blocks. McNaull hit a scorching .455% for seven kills as well as three blocks. Kopriva also had a career-high six blocks to slow down the Statesmen offense. 

The Mustangs control their own destiny as they sit in second place in the Heart of America Athletic Conference standings with just one week to go. Mount Mercy (20-6, 13-3 Heart) travels to Culver-Stockton (Mo.) (5-22, 1-15 Heart) on Saturday, Oct. 28 for a 6:00 pm start at the Charles Field House before returning home on Tuesday, Oct. 31 for a matchup against Clarke (3-25, 2-14 Heart) beginning at 7:00 pm.