Mustangs Maintain Momentum With Sweep Over Spartans

CEDAR RAPIDS, Iowa — Mount Mercy University (11-2, 7-2) clinched a commanding 3-0 win over Missouri Baptist University (9-9, 3-6) on Friday night at Hennessey Rec Center, posting set scores of 25-16, 25-19, 25-15. The Mustangs led the charge with a .420 hitting percentage, asserting dominance from the get-go.

Mount Mercy set the tone in the first set with a dominant display, highlighted by Guglielmo Illotti's five kills and two service aces from Gabor Toth. The Mustangs capitalized on the Spartans' missteps, including four service errors, securing a 25-16 lead, thanks in part to Richard Struska's multiple assists.

The Mustangs maintained momentum into the second set, leveraging the Spartans' errors and showcasing strong blocking to prevail 25-19. Defensive efforts shone with crucial blocks from Toth and Matthew Krzos, pivotal in neutralizing the visitors' offense.

Gustavo Kehl Bauer's setting prowess facilitated multiple kills by Curdin Acklin and Illotti, while Struska chipped in with two service aces, widening the gap. Missouri Baptist's attack struggled with service and attack errors, which helped Mount Mercy solidify their lead.

In the third set, Mount Mercy surged ahead with a swift 3-0 lead, driven by effective attacking and exploiting the Spartans' errors. Bauer's playmaking was critical, feeding multiple kills to Acklin and Toth. The Mustangs maintained their advantage through forced errors and a key service ace from Toth, wrapping up the set with a decisive 25-15 victory.

Illotti spearheaded the Mustangs with 13 kills, contributing 15.5 points overall, demonstrating his offensive prowess. Bauer excelled in setting up plays, tallying 31 assists and six digs. Struska bolstered the defense with 11 digs and added three service aces. Krzos hit an impressive .750 with six kills and two block assists.

Johnathan Kreke led the Spartans with a .417 hitting percentage, achieving six kills on 12 attempts and two block assists for 7.0 points. Isaac Allgeyer added eight kills on 28 attempts, despite a .071 hitting percentage, alongside four digs and one block assist for 8.5 points. Cruse Aea anchored the defense with a team-high 12 digs and four assists. Josh Kaemmerer contributed significantly with 13 assists across two games.

The Mustangs boast an 11-2 overall record and hold a 7-2 mark in conference play, while the Spartans stand at 9-9 overall, with a 3-6 conference record.

Up next, Mount Mercy will take on UHSP on Saturday, March 7, at 1 p.m. in Cedar Rapids, Iowa.