No. 7 Mustangs Knock Off No. 2 Cougars in Dramatic Five-Set Battle

CEDAR RAPIDS, Iowa — In a thrilling five-set showdown, Mount Mercy University (14-2, 9-2) emerged victorious over Saint Xavier University (IL) (15-3, 6-0) on Friday evening, clinching the match 3-2 with set scores of 25-23, 22-25, 17-25, 29-27, and 15-13.

The No. 7 Mustangs showcased their resilience and competitive spirit by toppling the No. 2 Cougars, highlighted by a formidable .444 attack percentage in the fourth set that set the stage for their decisive fifth-set triumph.

The Mustangs narrowly claimed the opening set 25-23, seizing the advantage amid a series of late attack errors by Saint Xavier, including a critical miscue by Matt Pennala. Gustavo Kehl Bauer orchestrated Mount Mercy's offense with precise assists, linking up with Gabor Toth and Raphael Massara for key points that enabled the Mustangs to rally from behind and capture the set.

In a tightly contested second set marked by service errors, Mount Mercy briefly gained the upper hand with strategic blocks from Guglielmo Illotti and Matthew Krzos. However, the Cougars, spurred by Pennala's aggressive play, secured a 25-22 victory, capitalizing on Mount Mercy's miscues to take the set.

Mount Mercy burst out with a 4-0 run in the third set, featuring two kills and a service ace from Kehl Bauer. Yet, Saint Xavier retaliated with a dominant stretch, led by Pennala's kills and a crucial service ace, as the Mustangs faltered with several attack errors. Despite Illotti's efforts, the Cougars exploited Mount Mercy's errors to claim a 25-17 set win.

In a nail-biting fourth set, Mount Mercy eked out a 29-27 victory, propelled by Illotti's pivotal kills and Kehl Bauer's steady assists. Defensive contributions from Toth and Krzos thwarted Saint Xavier's aggressive plays, while service errors on both sides fueled the set's back-and-forth nature. Curdin Acklin's final kill sealed the set for the Mustangs.

Mount Mercy clinched the match with a dramatic 15-13 win in the fifth set. Illotti's two crucial kills, including the one that broke a 13-13 tie, were instrumental in sustaining the Mustangs' momentum. Kehl Bauer's multiple assists facilitated key plays in this tense battle. Despite consistent efforts from Saint Xavier, timely service errors hindered their lead.

Illotti led the Mustangs with 23 kills, posting a .400 hitting percentage and racking up 24.5 points. Kehl Bauer's 49 assists were pivotal in driving the offense, while Acklin contributed 14 kills on 27 attempts, finishing with a .370 hitting percentage. Richard Struska anchored the defense with 15 digs throughout the match.

For the Cougars, Pennala was a standout performer, amassing 28 points with 26 kills on 46 attempts while hitting .391. Hayden Grange added 12 kills with a .500 hitting percentage and led the team with six service aces, totaling 19 points. Cameron Daniels facilitated the attack with 61 assists and 10 digs.

Caydann Cox added 16 kills and a .217 hitting percentage, contributing 19.5 points along with four total blocks. Andres Velez led the defense for Saint Xavier with 15 digs.

Mount Mercy stands at 14-2 overall and 9-2 in conference play, while the Cougars hold a 15-3 overall record and remain undefeated at 6-0 in conference competition.

Looking ahead, the Mustangs look to keep the momentum rolling as they host Graceland on Saturday, March 14, at 11 a.m. in Cedar Rapids, Iowa.