Mustangs nab two league wins

CEDAR RAPIDS, Iowa -- Fifteenth-ranked Mount Mercy was able to nab a pair of Heart of America Athletic Conference victories this weekend, defeating Missouri Valley in four sets on Friday before sweeping Culver-Stockton on Saturday at Hennessey Recreation Center.

The Mustangs and Vikings squared off in an intense match on Friday night. Missouri Valley won the opening set, 25-22, before Mount Mercy got the next three, 25-22, 30-28, and 25-21. Three Mustangs posted double-digit kill totals, led by Akeel Oxley with 16. Colin Castelnau added 13, Bo Brainerd 11. Brainerd also tallied six blocks, Raphael Massara had four. Rafael Vieyra collected 43 assists and 13 digs.

Saturday's match was all Mustangs, winning 25-16, 25-18, 25-18. Massara had a team-high nine kills and five blocks. Che Taylor and Alessandro Spendolini drilled six kills apiece. Brainerd hit .833 while finishing with five kills in six attempts. Vieyra tallied 28 assists, Johann Schopsdau seven digs.

Mount Mercy (15-3, 3-3 Heart) hosts Clarke on Tuesday at 7:00 pm, then hits the road for three straight beginning with a trip to eighth-ranked Missouri Baptist on Friday at 7:00 pm in St. Louis, Mo.