The Mustangs Top Vikings 3-1 in Conference Opener

CEDAR RAPIDS, Iowa — Mount Mercy women's volleyball secured its first conference win of the season with a 3-1 decision over Missouri Valley on Friday night at Hennessey Recreation Center. The Mustangs improved to 6-2 overall and 1-0 in the Heart of America Athletic Conference after taking the final three sets following a first-set loss.

Set scores were 28-30, 25-21, 25-21, 25-16.

Mount Mercy finished with 70 kills on a .244 hitting percentage while limiting Missouri Valley to .097 across the match. Mary Kate Bendlage paced the Mustangs with 20 kills, 18 digs, and 20.5 total points.

Maddie Marquardt distributed 32 assists and added three service aces, while Eryn Jackson anchored the defense with 19 digs. Ellie Gerdes contributed nine kills and two block assists, and Sam Schrage posted nine kills with two blocks.

After dropping the opening set 30-28, Mount Mercy responded with a balanced attack in the second. Bendlage recorded five kills in the frame, while Marquardt controlled the tempo with accurate distribution. The Mustangs hit .310 in the set, closing it out 25-21 on back-to-back kills from Alivia Arsenault and Gerdes.

In the third, Mount Mercy relied on defensive adjustments at the net. Hallie Bedier and Gerdes combined for a key block to halt a Missouri Valley rally at 18-18. Marquardt followed with a service ace to give the Mustangs momentum. Bedier added four kills in the set, including the clincher at 25-21.

The Mustangs controlled the fourth from the start, jumping out to a 12-5 lead behind kills from Bendlage, Bedier, and Gerdes. Marquardt's service run extended the advantage to 18-8. Bendlage closed the match with her 20th kill to seal the 25-16 decision.

Mount Mercy recorded 121 digs as a team, with Kate Wright and Brooklyn Miller providing key contributions in the back row. The Mustangs also tallied eight team blocks, led by Hodgkinson and Gerdes.

Missouri Valley (4-5, 0-1) was paced by Olivia Randolph, who posted 11 kills on a .244 clip. Juliana Oliveira added 10 kills and 26 digs, while setter Kellen Fitzgerald registered 21 assists and 18 digs.

Mount Mercy outscored Missouri Valley 78-64 in total points, holding advantages in kills (70-47), hitting percentage (.244 to .097), and assists (69-46). Missouri Valley's 13 service aces helped keep the match competitive, but the Mustangs maintained composure in side-out situations and converted key points in transition.

Mount Mercy looks ahead as it travels to Fulton, Mo., to face William Woods on Friday, Sept. 12, with first serve set for 7 p.m.