Mustangs complete sweep at Ottawa

OTTAWA, KAN. – Morningside's men's volleyball team headed to Kansas with its sights set on a regular season sweep over Ottawa University. The Mustangs upset the Braves at the beginning of the season in Allee Gym, 3-1, but had yet to win a set in OU's Wilson Field House. 

Morningside fought to overcome its winless streak at Ottawa, doing so in set one, with a sound 25-18 victory. The Mustangs continued toa 25-20 victory in set two, before Ottawa, back against the wall, turned the tables to win set three 25-20. Morningside refocused in the fourth set, avoiding a fifth deciding set with a 25-16 victory. 

The Mustangs hit .276 in the match, highlighted by a .357 hitting percentage in set three, tallied 52 assists, seven service aces, and 41 digs. Morningside had four total blocks in the match.

Owen Anderson led the defensive back row, recording 16 digs in the four-set match. Jacob DePauw followed with eight, and Dylan Hamil had six. Tharen Cox had the team's lone solo block, one of three total blocks for him. DePauw, Hamil, Kahakai Kahoiwai, and Erik Krenz each had a single block assist. 

Natan Alves led Morningside's attack, striking for 23 kills and hitting .356. Kahoiwai followed with 18 kills, also at an impressive .324 hitting percentage. Hamil had seven kills and Cox and Krenz, in his first match back from an injury, each had two terminations. 

DePauw had a single kill in two attempts alongside 46 of the team's assists. He also had four service aces, a match high.

Morningside's schedule is quiet for the remainder of the week, but the team prepares for a full first weekend in March, playing Kansas Wesleyan on March 3 and Central Christian and Culver-Stockton on March 4, all in Allee Gym.