Mustangs Outlasted by Pirates After Strong First Set

CEDAR RAPIDS, Iowa - Mount Mercy dropped a 3-1 decision to Park University in Heart of America Athletic Conference women's volleyball action Friday night at Hennessey Recreation Center. Set scores were 25-21, 14-25, 20-25, 15-25.

The Mustangs moved to 10-6 overall and 5-4 in conference play, while the Pirates improved to 9-5 overall and 5-2 in league action.

Mount Mercy opened the match with a strong first set, hitting .379 with 12 kills and just one error on 29 attempts. Mary Kate Bendlage led the attack with five kills in the opening frame, while setter Maddie Marquardt distributed 10 assists. The Mustangs closed the set on a 4-1 run, capped by back-to-back errors forced by the front row.

In the second set, Park responded with 17 kills and a .229 hitting percentage, holding Mount Mercy to eight kills and nine errors. Daniela Gomez paced the Pirates with six kills in the frame. Mount Mercy struggled in serve receive, committing four reception errors, while Park registered two service aces.

Set three remained competitive through the midpoint as Mount Mercy closed to within 13-12 after a kill from Hallie Bedier and a service ace from Brooke Ellyson. Park answered with a 12-8 scoring run, fueled by five kills from Isadora Dias and Gomez. Mount Mercy totaled eight kills in the set but committed nine attack errors, finishing with a -.019 hitting percentage.

In the fourth set, Park controlled momentum early with a 10-7 lead following consecutive kills from Gomez and Indi Zetic. The Pirates extended the margin with a 7-1 run, highlighted by two service aces from Jullia Alvarez. Mount Mercy's final push came with kills from Bendlage and Sam Schrage, but Park secured the match on a kill from Gomez to close the set, 25-15.

Bendlage led the Mustangs with a match-high 14 kills on 59 swings, adding 19 digs and one block assist. Marquardt recorded 24 assists, four digs, one ace and one kill. Bedier finished with eight kills, while Schrage and Bella Dantzler added three block assists apiece. Ellyson contributed 11 digs and two service aces off the bench. Kate Wright anchored the back row with a team-high 26 digs.

Mount Mercy totaled 36 kills, 26 errors and 173 total attacks, finishing with a .058 hitting percentage. The Mustangs added 36 assists, four aces, nine service errors, 85 digs and 12 block assists.

Park compiled 54 kills, 27 errors and 177 attacks for a .153 hitting percentage. Gomez led the Pirates with 16 kills on 44 swings, while Dias and Zetic each added 11. Setter Silvia Albani posted 47 assists and 13 digs. Defensively, Alvarez tallied 29 digs, and Zetic added 28. Park registered seven service aces and 10 block assists.

Team attack statistics by set showed Mount Mercy's efficiency drop after the opening frame. The Mustangs hit .379 in set one but posted percentages of -.024, -.019 and .020 in the final three sets.

Mount Mercy will continue conference play with a home match Saturday, October 4, against Central Methodist at Hennessey Recreation Center. First serve is scheduled for 12 p.m.