Vikings Edge Mustangs in Hard-Fought Conference Clash

DES MOINES, Iowa – Mount Mercy's men's volleyball team fell in a conference battle to the Grand View Vikings in a five-set thriller 3-2. The Mustangs fell with set scores of 24-26, 25-21, 25-22, 20-25, and 12-15. 

With the opening set going to the Vikings 26-24, the Mustangs bounced back in set two to tie the match at one apiece after taking the set 25-21. The Mustangs held the Vikings to a .040 hitting percentage while the Mustangs recorded 18 kills out of 39 attack attempts for a .256 hitting percentage. 

The Mustangs claimed set three 25-22 to extend their lead over the Vikings to 2-1, hitting their match high of .333 and 12 kills. The Vikings, however, sent the match to a deciding fifth set with their set four 25-20 victory over the Mustangs.

The Mustangs opened the final set with a four-point lead but couldn't hold off the Vikings, who capitalized on timely service aces and Mustang errors. The Vikings claimed the match, 3-2, after taking set five, 15-12. 

Guglielmo Illotti led the Mustangs, recording 19 kills out of 38 attack attempts for a .263 hitting percentage while adding five blocks. Trailing Illotti were Pere Font Torress, with 12 kills and hitting .222, and Gabor Toth, recording 10 kills and a .148 hitting percentage as well as five blocks. Gustavo Bauer paced the Mustang offense with 42 assists with Richard Struska guiding the Mustang defense with 13 digs. 

The Vikings were led by Ryan Griffel with 16 kills and a .273 attack percentage while collaborating in five blocks. Daniel Galili followed Griffel with 15 kills out of 40 attempts for a .050 hitting percentage. Rafael Obrusnik guided the Vikings to victory with 44 assists. 

Mount Mercy (15-4, 10-3 HEART) looks to bounce back into the win column on Saturday, March 22 as they host Kansas Wesleyan at Hennessey Recreation Center starting at 2:00 p.m.