Mustangs End Weekend Road Swing With Defeat Against Spartans

ST. LOUIS, Mo. — Mount Mercy's women's volleyball team dropped a 3-1 decision on Saturday afternoon against No. 4-ranked Missouri Baptist inside the Petty SRC. The Mustangs opened the match with a first-set win but were unable to sustain momentum, falling 27-25, 15-25, 15-25, 10-25 in Heart of America Athletic Conference play.

Mount Mercy (7-3, 2-1 Heart) recorded 29 kills on 115 total attempts, finishing with a .052 attack percentage. The Mustangs were led offensively by Mary Kate Bendlage, who posted a team-high nine kills on 40 attempts. Hallie Bedier followed with six kills and a .357 hitting percentage, while Sam Schrage added four kills and three block assists for six points.

The Mustangs opened the first set with early kills from Bendlage and Alivia Arsenault to establish a 10-7 advantage. Bedier added a kill to make it 16-13 before Missouri Baptist rallied to tie the score at 18-18. Mount Mercy used sideouts from Arsenault and Bedier to retake control and reached set point at 24-22 following an attack error by Gabi Jakubowska. After the Spartans evened the frame at 25-25, Bedier delivered a kill for a 26-25 lead, and an attack error by Allana Capella secured the 27-25 set victory.

Missouri Baptist (12-2, 4-0 Heart) responded with strong offensive production in the second set, using four service aces from Jakubowska to build a 12-3 margin. Despite kills from Bella Dantzler and Schrage, the Mustangs were limited to 10 kills in the set while hitting .129. The Spartans closed on a 25-15 result to even the match.

The third set featured another balanced attack from Mount Mercy early, with Bedier and Ellie Gerdes combining for back-to-back points to put the Mustangs ahead 4-2. Maddie Marquardt added consecutive service aces for a 10-9 lead. Missouri Baptist answered with an 11-2 run highlighted by kills from Fernanda Perini and Summer McDonough. Mount Mercy finished the frame with just five kills against seven errors, while the Spartans hit .333 to claim the set, 25-15.

In the fourth set, Mount Mercy struggled against the Spartans' front-row presence. Missouri Baptist opened with a 7-2 lead behind kills from Jakubowska and Perini. The Mustangs were unable to recover, managing only three kills in the set against seven errors. Missouri Baptist secured the match with a 25-10 win.

For the match, Marquardt distributed 13 assists and added two service aces. Delaney Rhoden contributed 10 assists and one ace. Defensively, Brooke Ellyson posted a team-high eight digs, while Bendlage added six. The Mustangs finished with one solo block and six block assists, led by Schrage and Dantzler at the net.

Missouri Baptist produced 57 kills and a .286 hitting percentage, led by Jakubowska with 16 kills and six service aces. Perini added 12 kills on .600 efficiency, while Kassie Lee posted 11 kills and six block assists.

Mount Mercy returns to action Tuesday, Sept. 16, hosting William Penn in a Heart matchup at Hennessey Recreation Center. First serve is scheduled for 7 p.m.