Mustangs Gallop Past Gyrenes, Stalled by Phoenix in Weekend Finale

BOURBONNAIS, Ill. - Mount Mercy's women's volleyball team closed out their weekend in Illinois with a doubleheader split, defeating the Ave Maria Gyrenes 3-2 before falling to the Cumberland Phoenix 3-2.

GAME ONE

The Mustangs opened their doubleheader with a five-set thriller, taking down the Gyrenes with set scores of 14-25, 25-15, 25-21, 23-25, and 15-9.

In the first set, the Mustangs started the match strong, but the Gyrenes capitalized on a strong offensive front and a few Mustang errors to claim the opener. Mount Mercy hit a match-low .083 with 11 kills, while the Gyrenes posted their match-high .250 with 11 kills.

In set two, momentum shifted in favor of the Mustangs as Kate Wright served six straight points, pushing the lead to 16-7 before Ave Maria broke the streak. Mount Mercy recorded a match-high .286 hitting percentage in the set-two win with 14 kills while holding the Gyrenes to .062 with just seven kills.

The Mustangs extended their lead after claiming set three with an efficient .244 hitting percentage and 17 kills, but the Gyrenes forced a deciding fifth after taking set four, 25-23, in a point-for-point battle.

In the final frame, the Mustangs sealed their second win of the season with a 15-9 victory.

Mary Kate Bendlage led the Mustangs with 20 kills on a .283 hitting percentage and added 18 digs. Hallie Bedier followed with 14 kills. Delaney Rhoden paced the offense with 27 assists, with Maddie Marquardt right behind at 26. Wright added 16 digs.

Ryan Getz led the Gyrenes with 13 kills (.163) and 13 digs. Greta Heiney added 12 kills. Maria Teixeira dished out 32 assists, while Maylis Detar recorded 21 digs.  

GAME TWO

The Mustangs closed out their doubleheader with a five-set heartbreaker, falling to the Phoenix 15-25, 25-14, 18-25, 25-23, and 10-15.

In the first set, Mount Mercy battled closely with Cumberland, but a few attacking errors allowed the Phoenix to pull away for a 25-15 win. The Mustangs responded in set two, coming out strong and building an early lead before evening the match with a 25-14 victory. They hit a match-high .364 with 14 kills while limiting the Phoenix to a match-low .189.

Set three proved challenging as the teams went point-for-point until the Phoenix pulled away late to take a 2-1 lead. Cumberland hit .281, while the Mustangs were held to .028. Mount Mercy forced their second five-setter of the day with a 25-23 win in set four, but the Phoenix closed it out with a 15-10 win in the final frame.

Bendlage once again led the Mustangs with 17 kills, while Ellie Gerdes followed with eight. Rhoden recorded a double-double with 23 assists and 12 digs, while Marquardt chipped in 10 assists. Four Mustangs finished with double-digit digs.

For the Phoenix, Lila Cade tallied 12 kills (.190), with Hazel Konkel and Haley Mitchell adding 11 each. Jacey Hubbel and Carlee Rogers shared setting duties with 25 assists apiece, while Kaleigh Glass anchored the defense with 21 digs.

Mount Mercy (2-2) returns to action on Friday, August 22, when they travel to Joliet, Ill., to take on the University of St. Francis at 5 p.m.