Mustangs Clinch Win Against Defenders with Strong Offense

CEDAR RAPIDS, Iowa — Mount Mercy University (10-2, 6-2) clinched a 3-1 victory over Dordt University (13-5, 5-3) on Saturday afternoon. The Mustangs' offense was firing on all cylinders, boasting a .326 hitting percentage and seven service aces.

Mount Mercy set the tone in the first set with sharp offensive plays, highlighted by Guglielmo Illotti and Curdin Acklin's combined eight kills, expertly set up by Gustavo Kehl Bauer's eight assists.

Despite Dordt's efforts, including three kills from Joel Van Groningen, service errors plagued the Defenders, helping Mount Mercy maintain their edge. The Mustangs pounced on Dordt's mistakes, sealing the set at 25-16 with a service ace from Richard Struska.

The second set saw Mount Mercy edge out a win in a tight back-and-forth battle, 27-25. Illotti made key contributions, delivering clutch kills to tie the set at 24-24 and to push the lead at 25-25. Kehl Bauer remained a steady force, setting up teammates for crucial points. Raphael Massara's blocking prowess shone through as he shut down Cade Schmidt's attack to clinch the set.

In the third set, the Mustangs rallied from an early three-point deficit, leveling the score at 9-9 thanks to a series of blocks led by Illotti and Acklin. Despite Acklin's strong performance with multiple kills, Mount Mercy stumbled with attack errors late in the set, falling 25-21 to the Defenders. Dordt took advantage of these errors and Schmidt's consistent kills to pull ahead.

Mount Mercy roared back in the final set, dominating 25-18. A powerful serving game, featuring five aces—three from Illotti—propelled the Mustangs. Illotti also spearheaded the offense with six kills, with Kehl Bauer providing crucial assists. Dordt's attack errors allowed Mount Mercy to keep the momentum and close out the set decisively.

Illotti recorded a career-high 28 kills on 47 attempts, achieving a .489 hitting percentage and adding two service aces. Kehl Bauer orchestrated the offense smoothly, notching 50 assists without a misstep. Struska was a force at the service line with four aces and contributed 16 digs on defense. Acklin delivered 11 kills on 24 swings, hitting at a .375 clip.

For Dordt, Van Groningen led with 19 kills and 21.5 points, showcasing his offensive impact. Lance Vermeer was efficient with a .727 hitting percentage, adding eight kills and six blocks. Joseph Jang was effective in setting, with 18 assists and a flawless 1.000 hitting percentage on his sole attack. Colt Schmidt was a defensive stalwart, recording 15 digs to stifle Mount Mercy's scoring chances.

Mount Mercy stands at 10-2 overall and 6-2 in conference play, while Dordt holds a 13-5 overall record and 5-3 in conference action.

Next up, the Mustangs will host Missouri Baptist on Friday, March 6 at 7 p.m. in Cedar Rapids, Iowa.