No. 14 Mustangs sweep UHSP

ST. LOUIS -- The Morningside men's volleyball team stayed efficient and in control Friday night, sweeping UHSP 25-23, 25-23, 25-13.

The Mustangs totaled 41 kills and hit .184 as a team, but their defense and net presence proved decisive. Morningside recorded 52 digs and nine total blocks, limiting UHSP to a .058 hitting percentage, including a negative clip (-.077) in the third set.

Natan Alves led the offense with 14 kills, adding a service ace and six digs. Mohamed Benkrid followed with 13 kills while hitting .286, and Palikapu Wilson added six kills at a .333 rate. Mauro Verstraeten chipped in four kills and three block assists.

Lucca Stoelinga and Malu Wilcox combined for 34 assists. Stoelinga finished with 19 assists and a service ace, while Wilcox added 15 assists and nine digs.

Set one featured a tight battle before Morningside closed on a 3-1 stretch, capped by a Verstraeten kill. In the second, the Mustangs recovered from an early deficit and seized momentum with a late push, highlighted by a Benkrid kill and a Wilson finish to seal the 25-23 win.

The third set was all Morningside. The Mustangs opened on a 10-6 run and never looked back, holding UHSP to eight kills and forcing 11 errors in the frame. Alves delivered key swings late as Morningside pulled away for a decisive 25-13 finish.

Balanced scoring and defensive pressure powered the Mustangs from start to finish.

Morningside stays in St. Louis with a 1 p.m. match on Saturday against Missouri Baptist.