Mustangs Stampede Past Yellowjackets in Straight Sets

CEDAR RAPIDS, Iowa — October 24, 2025 — The Mount Mercy women's volleyball team delivered a clean 3-0 sweep over Graceland University on Friday night at Hennessey Recreation Center, improving to 12-11 overall and 7-9 in Heart of America Athletic Conference play. The Mustangs posted set scores of 25-16, 25-17, and 25-16 to secure their third consecutive home victory.

Mount Mercy controlled the match from start to finish, out-hitting Graceland .323 to .097 and holding a decisive 42-20 advantage in total kills. Mary Kate Bendlage led the Mustangs with a match-high 18 kills on 33 attempts, committing no errors for a .545 hitting percentage. Bendlage also contributed three block assists and 19.5 total points.

Setter Maddie Marquardt anchored the Mustang offense with 21 assists, facilitating a balanced attack that featured five different Mount Mercy players recording at least three kills. Hallie Bedier added eight kills with a .294 hitting clip, while Sam Schrage tallied seven kills on .417 efficiency and paired that effort with a block assist. Teresa Pattanaro made an impact off the bench, registering four kills and two block assists through two sets of action.

The Mustangs' serving game played a major role in the victory, recording five aces while limiting service errors to five. Brooke Ellyson and Eryn Jackson each logged an ace, and Ellyson's consistency from the backline helped Mount Mercy string together early scoring runs in each set.

Jackson also provided strong defensive coverage, collecting 11 digs to lead the team. Brooklyn Miller followed with eight digs, while Bendlage and Alivia Arsenault each added multiple digs in transition defense.

Mount Mercy's net presence proved equally dominant, posting 12 block assists to Graceland's six. The front row, led by Bendlage, Taia Hodgkinson, and Bella Dantzler, consistently disrupted the Yellowjackets' attack. Graceland was limited to 20 total kills across the match, hitting just .083 in the third set as the Mustangs closed out the sweep in one hour and fifteen minutes.

The first set opened with Mount Mercy scoring five of the first six points, highlighted by a service ace from Ellyson and consecutive kills by Bendlage. After Graceland briefly tied the set at 8–8, the Mustangs responded with a 9–1 run behind kills from Bendlage, Schrage, and Bedier, forcing a pair of Graceland timeouts. A block by Hodgkinson and Dantzler sealed the 25–16 win.

In the second frame, Mount Mercy again established momentum early with kills from Bendlage and Arsenault, extending to a 9–4 advantage following a Jackson service ace. The Mustangs maintained their efficiency through the middle rotation as Marquardt distributed assists evenly among the hitters. Pattanaro came off the bench to provide back-to-back kills late in the set, giving Mount Mercy a 25–17 margin.

The Mustangs' offense stayed sharp in the third, recording 14 kills on .250 hitting. Bendlage added five kills in the frame, while Bedier contributed three and Schrage recorded two more. The Mustangs used a 6–1 scoring run out of a Graceland timeout to extend the lead to 20–14. A block by Bendlage and Pattanaro on match point closed the set, 25–16.

Graceland was led by Kylee Dixon, who finished with nine kills on .529 hitting, while setter Allison Sander posted 15 assists. The Yellowjackets' offense struggled to find rhythm against Mount Mercy's block, committing 20 attack errors.

Mount Mercy returns to action Tuesday, Oct. 28, hosting Grand View at Hennessey Recreation Center. First serve is scheduled for 7 p.m.