Dominate fifth set leads to Morningside victory at Mount Marty

YANKTON, S.D. – It took five sets, but the Mustangs pulled out a 22-25, 25-16, 25-9, 20-25, 15-7 win over Mount Marty Friday night in Yankton.

After losing a battle in the first set, the Mustangs controlled the second and third sets by hitting .176 and .361 compared to a -.054 and -.162 from the Lancers. Mount Marty bounced back in the fourth set, but the Mustangs hit .412 to cruise to a win in the fifth. 

The Lancers scored the first three points of the match, but it was a tight set from there on. A kill from Claire Wilson, followed by back-to-back kills from Payten Lode tied the set at 21. Mount Marty responded with three straight to take control and win the set.

With the second set tied at three, Morningside went on a run to score seven of the next eight points and lead 10-4. The Lancers responded with three points of their own, but six of the next seven went Morningside's way. Morningside stretched the lead to 11, and won the set 25-16.

Morningside opened up a 10-2 lead in the third set, and cruised to the win to take a 2-1 lead in the match. A strong start to the fourth set went to the wayside, as the Mustangs led 7-1 early, but the Lancers took a 16-15 lead and held on to win the set 25-20 and force a decisive fifth.

It took 10 points for the Lancers to score, as Morningside opened up a 9-0 lead in the fifth. The Mustangs led 14-3 in the final set, but Mount Marty tallied four straight to make things 14-7 in the fifth. A kill from Lode sealed the win for the Mustangs.

Sydney Marlow tallied her 1,000th kill in the match. Marlow finished with 16 kills and 13 digs in the win. Wilson added 16 kills as well and Lode 12 kills and 14 digs. Aleksandra Dalach contributed 52 assists, and Payton Shoquist pitched in 33 digs for the defense.

Next up for the Mustangs is a match in Omaha against the College of Saint Mary.