Mustangs Pick Up Definitive Win in Regular Season Finale

LAMONI, Iowa – The Morningside men's volleyball team ended its regular season schedule on a high note tonight, picking up a decisive Heart of America Athletic Conference win over Graceland's Yellow Jackets, 25-19, 25-18, 25-14.

The Mustangs' defense was clicking tonight, as Morningside picked up 10 total blocks, with five solo denials, and 43 digs. Paulikapu Wilson led the team at the net, with a solo block and three assists. Natan Alves had three solo blocks, while Edoardo Pirazzo had a solo block and two block assists. Five solo blocks in the match as a team ties a 10-year-old record for a three-set match. 

Tucker Juhnke and Alves led the way behind the block, with 10 digs apiece. Lucca Stoelinga followed with nine.

Malu Wilcox and Stoelinga split time running the offense, with Wilcox tallying 19 assists and Stoelinga 14. Alves was the favorite target, with 15 of his 24 attempts resulting in kills. Mohamed Benkrid followed with nine kills in 23 attempts, and Mauro Verstraeten had eight kills in 20 attempts.

Morningside will look to capitalize on tonight's momentum as it enters the postseason tournament as the no. 8 seed. The Mustangs will take their 10-9 record in arguably one of the strongest conferences in the country to top-seeded Park on Saturday, April 11.