Mustangs split North Dakota twin bill

VALLEY CITY, N.D. – Morningside rebounded from a tough loss to the University of Jamestown with a Sunday matinee with a straight-sets victory over the Vikings.  Not the ones that Morningside's Sports Information department has become accustomed to watching lose on Sunday afternoons, but those of Valley City State University.  The North Dakota twin bill opened yesterday evening when the University of Jamestown Jimmies, continuing to play the role of Goliath, bested the Mustangs 3-0.

Jamestown, currently ranked no. 2 in the nation, extended its win streak against Morningside to at least eight straight, as the Mustangs, beleaguered by errors, fell 25-13, 25-17, and 25-12.

While a tough loss, the match against the Jimmies was not without highlights, especially set two, which saw Morningside square off with the hosts, much like they did earlier this month in Allee Gymnasium.  The Mustangs stayed close after the Jimmies broke a 9-9 tie, but stalled out, down 20-17, while Jamestown powered forward to score its final five points, claiming the set.

Morningside had 22 kills in the match, led by Meredith Hoffman and Sydney Marlow, each with six.  Sabrina Creason accounted for 13 of the Mustangs' 19 assists.

The Mustang defense was also held quiet, with Payton Shoquist picking up a team-high 10 digs, nearly half of the team's 23.  Morningside had just one block in the match courtesy of Kenna Howard and Sydney Marlow, each credited with a block assist.

Morningside bounced back from the loss with a 25-18, 26-24, 25-17 victory over Valley City State, a match that was in stark contrast to the previous day's contest.  

Set one saw Morningside and Valley City exchange blows early, with the Mustangs chipping away, trading two points for one, before going on a five-point run, ignited by a Ryley Rolls kill on an assist from Bridget Smith.  Sydney Marlow split a pair of Viking attack errors with a pair of kills of her own, and it was back to trading jabs for the two teams.  The hosts attempted to mount a comeback, down 23-13, forcing a Morningside timeout, before the Mustangs claimed the set on an Emerson Smith kill.

The Mustangs launched into set two with a pair of kills by Meredith Hoffman.  An ace for Shoquist and a kill for Rolls were all Morningside could muster before going back to trading points.  A home team run of six points, down 13-7, closed the gap between the teams, keeping the pressure on, but another streak for the visitors kept the Mustangs in control.  

With Morningside leading 17-12, Valley City took nine of the next ten points, and the lead, working the score to 19-22 before Morningside started to play catch up.  Then it was the Mustangs' chance to finish things out, with a Claire Wilson kill to make the score 21-23 starting a span that saw Morningside earn six of the last seven points of the set.

Having had a scare in set two, Morningside wasted no time in three, never trailing in the set, which saw the teams going back and forth for much of the match.  A trio of kills, up 9-8, for Wilson, Hoffman, and Marlow, followed by three more for Creason, Emerson Smith, and Marlow gave the Mustangs some breathing room, with another four-point run giving Morningside a comfortable 20-11 lead.  Kenna Howard and Emerson Smith struck for the final two points for the Mustangs, sending Morningside home with the W.

Vastly improved over the Jamestown match, Morningside recorded 49 kills, led by Sydney Marlow, who was one of three attackers for the visitors registering a .400+ kill percentage.  Hoffman and Emerson Smith each followed Marlow with 11 kills.  The tandem of Creason and Bridget Smith registered 39 of the team's 45 assists in the match, with the senior recording 22 and freshman notching 17.

Morningside's defense knocked down six balls for blocks, led by Rolls and Howard, with three block assists each.  Shoquist again led the subterranean efforts, with 18 digs.  The setters slid in second and third, with Smith recording 17 digs and Creason 14.

The Mustangs are back in action on Wednesday, welcoming Briar Cliff to the Rosen-Verdoorn Sports Center in the heart of homecoming week.  JV will compete at 6 p.m., setting the stage for a 7:30 p.m. varsity contest.