Mustangs Storm Back to Take Four-Set Win Over Fighting Saints

JOLIET, Ill. - Mount Mercy's women's volleyball team opened its weekend with a 3-1 victory over the St. Francis Fighting Saints, winning by set scores of 25-21, 18-25, 25-13, and 25-20.

In the opening frame, the Mustangs jumped out to a 12-4 lead and maintained control the rest of the way to secure set one. Mount Mercy backed up the win by hitting .324 with 14 kills, while holding the Fighting Saints to a .278 clip.

Set two proved more challenging, as the teams traded points before the Fighting Saints used an eight-point run to even the match at 1-1.

The Mustangs responded in dominant fashion in set three, hitting an impressive .538 with 16 kills while limiting St. Francis to just .115 hitting, their lowest mark of the match, to regain the lead 2-1.

In set four, Mount Mercy rallied from a 17-8 deficit. Maddie Marquardt sparked the comeback with a six-point service run that pulled the Mustangs within two. From there, Mount Mercy closed out the set, 25-20, to seal the 3-1 win.

Mary Kate Bendlage powered the Mustang attack with 21 kills on a .283 hitting percentage. She was joined by Sam Schrage (10 kills, .526) and Hallie Bedier (8 kills, .333). Marquardt and Delaney Rhoden ran the offense with 19 assists apiece, while Kate Wright anchored the back row with 11 digs.

For the Fighting Saints, Riley Hungate tallied 15 kills on .333 hitting, followed by Cadence Wodrich with 10 kills and an impressive .769 hitting percentage. Talia Messana dished out 21 assists, while Ann Simon led the defense with 19 digs.

Mount Mercy (3-2) returns to action on Saturday, August 23, in Joliet, Illinois, facing Saint Xavier at 9 a.m. and Georgetown at 11 a.m.