Mustangs Outlast Owls in Five-Set Road Victory

FULTON, Mo. — Mount Mercy's women's volleyball team secured its second conference win of the season Friday night, defeating William Woods in a five-set road match (25-19, 20-25, 25-13, 23-25, 15-8) at Anderson Arena. With the result, the Mustangs improved to 7-2 overall and 2-0 in conference play.

The Mustangs posted 56 total kills with a .185 attack percentage while holding the Owls to 52 kills and a .112 hitting efficiency. Mount Mercy registered nine service aces and 18 block assists, converting key points in both transition and sideout situations.

Hallie Bedier led the Mustangs with 11 kills on 31 attempts, finishing with a .226 hitting percentage and adding three block assists for 12.5 points. Ellie Gerdes was efficient at the net with 10 kills on 18 swings and a .500 attack clip while contributing three block assists. Mary Kate Bendlage added 10 kills and 13 digs, tallying 12.5 points. Alivia Arsenault finished with eight kills and two block assists.

Setter Maddie Marquardt directed the offense with 21 assists, while Delaney Rhoden contributed 22 assists and one service ace. Libero Eryn Jackson anchored the back row with nine digs, while Kate Wright added three service aces and 15 digs. Brooke Ellyson chipped in three service aces.

Mount Mercy opened the match with a 25-19 win in the first set, using an early scoring run to establish a lead. Bendlage, Arsenault, and Gerdes each recorded key kills as the Mustangs capitalized on William Woods' eight attack errors in the frame.

The Owls responded in set two, hitting .300 while limiting Mount Mercy to a .167 clip. Luciana Paiva Pereira recorded six kills in the set as William Woods evened the match with a 25-20 decision.

The Mustangs regained control in the third, producing a .214 attack percentage and forcing eight errors from the Owls. Gerdes and Arsenault combined for seven kills, and Mount Mercy closed the set on a 9-3 run to take a 25-13 win.

Set four featured 11 ties and six lead changes before William Woods extended the match with a 25-23 win. Pamela Durazo led the Owls with four kills in the frame, while Mount Mercy committed 10 attack errors.

In the decisive fifth set, the Mustangs executed efficiently, hitting .364 with 10 kills on 22 attempts. Bedier and Sam Schrage combined for five kills, while Ellyson added a service ace to extend the lead. Mount Mercy closed the match on a 6-1 run, capped by a block assist from Schrage and Gerdes, followed by an ace from Ellyson for the final 15-8 margin.

Overall, Mount Mercy finished with a 74-64 edge in total points. William Woods was paced by Pereira with a match-high 18 kills, while Durazo added nine kills and five block assists.

The Mustangs controlled the match in serve-receive and out-blocked the Owls 18-12 in block assists. Despite committing 25 errors, Mount Mercy capitalized on William Woods' 33 attack errors and four ball-handling faults.

The win marks the Mustangs' seventh victory of the season and maintains their unbeaten start in conference competition.

Mount Mercy (7-2, 2-0 HEART) will be back on the court on Saturday, Sept. 13, as they face the Spartans of Missouri Baptist, with the match starting at 2 p.m.