Mustangs Advance to Semifinals, Await Winner of Missouri Valley–Dordt Clash

CEDAR RAPIDS, Iowa — Mount Mercy University claimed an avenging 3-0 victory over Ottawa University on Saturday afternoon. The Mustangs' attack was led by a strong .409 hitting percentage in the final set.

Mount Mercy took control of the first set with a strong offensive display, capitalizing on the Braves' errors to secure a 25-17 victory. Curdin Acklin and Guglielmo Illotti led the charge with multiple kills set up by Gustavo Kehl Bauer, who contributed numerous assists.

The Mustangs' blocking, featuring Kehl Bauer and Matthew Krzos, forced several attack errors from Ottawa, creating a decisive edge. Despite the Braves' efforts, including key plays from Quentin Le Dortz, service errors hindered their ability to close the gap.

Mount Mercy held off Ottawa in a tightly contested second set, securing a 25-22 win. The Mustangs' balanced attack was highlighted by Gabor Toth's key block and kill contributions, while Kehl Bauer facilitated the offense with multiple assists. Ottawa's effort was marked by Le Dortz's steady playmaking, yet it was unable to overcome the home team's consistent pressure. The set concluded with a decisive kill from Raphael Massara, extending Mount Mercy's lead.

Mount Mercy clinched the third set with a commanding 25-17 result over the Braves, capitalizing on a series of attack errors and effective blocking. Illotti and Massara played pivotal roles, combining for multiple kills and key blocks, contributing significantly to the team's momentum.

Kehl Bauer's setting was instrumental, assisting on several critical plays, while Richard Struska added pressure with two service aces, widening the lead and setting the stage for the Mustangs' decisive win.

Acklin led the offensive charge with 13 kills on 19 attempts, achieving a .579 hitting percentage. Massara contributed significantly with eight kills, hitting .700, and added six total blocks to his performance. Kehl Bauer orchestrated the setup with 35 assists, while Toth posted eight kills and two block assists.

Petar Lazic led Ottawa with nine kills on 29 attempts, achieving a .207 hitting percentage and contributing 9.5 points overall. Macort Pickup added eight kills and recorded a .182 hitting percentage, while also securing four digs. Le Dortz excelled in setting, delivering 15 assists across three sets. Leo Betin was a defensive asset with seven digs and two assists. Marko Zolnjan contributed both offensively and defensively, tallying four kills, one ace, and three digs, resulting in five total points.

The Mustangs will await the winner of Missouri Valley and Dordt for their semifinal opponent, with the match being played on April 15th, starting at 7 pm in Cedar Rapids, Iowa.