Illotti, Toth Lead Mustangs to 3-1 Triumph Over Morningside
| Final | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | T | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
Mount Mercy (11-2, 6-1) | 25 | 26 | 21 | 25 | 3 |
|
Morningside (7-5, 3-4) | 18 | 24 | 25 | 18 | 1 |
SIOUX CITY, Iowa - Mount Mercy's men's volleyball team opened its weekend road trip with a commanding 3-1 win over the Morningside Mustangs. The match concluded with set scores of 25-18, 26-24, 21-25, and 25-18.
The Mustangs started strong, recording a match-high hitting percentage of .577 in the opening set with 17 kills while holding Morningside to a .200 hitting percentage and just 10 kills. Guglielmo Illotti led the charge, tallying six of Mount Mercy's 17 kills to help secure the 25-18 first-set victory.
The second set saw a back-and-forth battle, with neither team leading by more than four points. Despite a slight dip in offensive efficiency (.090 hitting percentage), the Mustangs managed to edge out Morningside 26-24 to take a 2-0 lead.
Morningside fought back in set three, claiming a 25-21 win and extending the match to a fourth set. The Mustangs were narrowly outhit, posting a .333 hitting percentage compared to Morningside's .355.
Mount Mercy regained control in the fourth set, sealing the 3-1 match victory with a 25-18 win. The Mustangs hit an impressive .435 with 12 kills while limiting Morningside to a .192 hitting percentage to close out the match.
Illotti led the Mustangs' attack, hitting .312 with 17 kills and adding nine digs. Gabor Toth delivered 15 kills with a .387 hitting percentage, while Matthew Krzoz posted 11 kills on an efficient .588 hitting percentage. Setter Gustavo Bauer facilitated the offense with 48 assists, while Richard Struska anchored the defense with a team-high 14 digs. Overall, Mount Mercy finished the match with a .339 hitting percentage and 57 kills.
Morningside's offense was led by Natan Alves, who recorded 14 kills while hitting .143, followed by Liam Lutz with 11 kills. Gabe Schreck guided Morningside's attack with 28 assists. As a team, Morningside was held to a .179 hitting percentage.
Mount Mercy (11-2, 6-1 Heart) will look to carry its offensive momentum into Saturday, March 1, when they face Dordt on the road. First serve is set for 11:00 a.m.