Mustangs sweep way through home triangular

Photo by Lauren Hedlund, Morningside Sports Information Intern

SIOUX CITY, IOWA – Men's volleyball wasted no time getting back on top, defeating Central Christian in straight sets, 25-13, 25-16, and 25-19, before topping Culver-Stockton 25-19, 25-20, and 25-17.

Morningside recorded 32 kills hitting .434 as a team and recording 31 assists. The Mustangs had 11 service aces, 19 digs, and three total blocks, all via the block assist.

Tharen Cox and Jacob DePauw each had two blocks to lead the way for Morningside. Erik Krenz and Dylan Hamil each got in on a block to reach the team total. Owen Anderson continued where he left off yesterday, collecting 10 digs in the three-set match. Krenz, Natan Alves, and Kahakai Kahoiwai each scooped two.

Alves was the top attacker in the opening match, striking for eight kills and hitting .583. Kahoiwai, Hamil, and Tharen Cox each had six kills, with Cox hitting at a team-high .750. Krenz followed with five kills. 

From the service line, Anderson led the team with five service aces, with Donovan Chandy acing the Tigers twice.

Morningside encountered a more strenuous opponent in the day's final game, but still saw successes mount throughout the game. The Mustangs hit .289 in the match for 38 kills with 35 assists. The home team had six service aces, 33 digs, and nine team blocks, with three solo blocks.

Alves again led the way on the attack, with 11 kills, but with Kahoiwai right behind with 10 kills. Cox was next in line and by far the most efficient attacker, with seven kills in 10 attempts and no errors. Hamil and Krenz each had five kills. DePauw tallied 33 of the team's 35 assists and had four service aces.

DePauw arguably led Morningside's defense, with a team-high eight digs, and two block assists. Anderson, Alves, Hamil, and Kahoiwai all tallied six digs in the match. 

Krenz was the big man up front, with six total blocks, including two solo blocks. Kahoiwai had three block assists, Cox matched DePauw's two block assists, and Alves had a solo block and a block assist.

The Mustangs travel to Graceland in Lamoni, Iowa, on Wednesday, competing in a 7 p.m. contest, before playing in Palos Heights, Ill. at Trinity Christian on Thursday.