Mustangs Sweep Vikings to Extend Unbeaten Streak
| Final | 1 | 2 | 3 | T | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
Mount Mercy (7-0, 3-0) | 25 | 25 | 25 | 3 |
|
Grand View (2-4, 1-3) | 21 | 23 | 19 | 0 |
DES MOINES, Iowa — The Mount Mercy Mustangs continued their unbeaten streak by sweeping Grand View Vikings in straight sets, 25-21, 25-23, 25-19, on Tuesday night. The Mustangs, now 7-0 overall and 3-0 in conference play, showcased a stellar .368 hitting percentage, notching 44 kills against just 12 errors.
Mount Mercy set the tone early in the first set with a commanding 6-0 run, fueled by two service aces and a block. Setter Gustavo Kehl Bauer played a pivotal role, assisting on eight of the team's kills and driving the Mustangs to a 25-21 set win, despite a late push from the Vikings.
The second set saw the Mustangs edge out a 25-23 victory, thanks in part to a crucial kill by Gabor Toth. Service errors by the Vikings gifted the Mustangs vital points, while strong blocks from Curdin Acklin and Raphael Massara stymied Grand View's offense. A service ace from Jake Winters at 19-19 set the stage for a nail-biting finish.
In the third, the Mustangs clinched a decisive 25-19 win, with standout Guglielmo Illotti delivering six kills. Capitalizing on the Vikings' service errors, Mount Mercy extended their lead, bolstered by Toth's service ace and a key block on Grand View's Andre Leandro. Bauer's consistent setting kept the Mustangs' offense humming, ensuring they maintained control throughout.
Illotti led the charge with 17 kills on 33 swings, hitting .455. Bauer was instrumental with 31 assists, while Toth added nine kills and three aces. Acklin contributed with eight kills and four digs.
For the Vikings, Pietro Fadanelli led with 11 kills on 20 attempts, hitting .400 and contributing 12.0 points. Leandro added eight kills and three blocks, totaling 11.0 points. Setter Guilherme Domdei Goedert provided 25 assists, and Joshua Valencia anchored the defense with 10 digs. Cheikh Sou chipped in six kills and two blocks, totaling 7.5 points.
Looking ahead, Mount Mercy will travel to Parkville, Missouri, to face No. 3 Park on Friday, Feb. 20, at 7 p.m., aiming to continue their winning ways on the road.