Mustang
WOMEN’S VOLLEYBALL WEDNESDAY, SEPT. 29
Morningside University’s Homecoming Week 2021 schedule starts tonight with the second edition of this year’s Crosstown Showdown. Head coach Jessica Squier’s Mustangs, standing 10-11 and 1-5 in the Great Plains Athletic Conference, held off a furious comeback from the Chargers in the first meeting at Briar Cliff University’s Newman Flanagan Center earlier this month. The victory was Mside’s fourth straight and eighth in the last ten series match-ups, part of a narrow 36-34-6 all-time edge. Briar Cliff, coached by Lindsey Weatherford, sports a 5-10 overall and 0-5 GPAC record. They’ve dropped four straight and five of their last six, including a straightset defeat at the hands of Dakota Wesleyan University on Sept. 24 in recent action.
THE MATCH-UP Squier’s squad has some robust rankings on the current National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics’ statistics. They have seven top 25 placings, including being among the best 15 in total attack attempts (No. 4 - 2804), digs (No. 5 - 1304), and points scored (No. 14 – 1139). Individually, sophomore defensive specialist Payton Shoquist who continues to close in on 400 digs this season (388), ranks eighth nationally; senior setter Sabrina Creason’s penchant for service aces, totaling 28 through 21 matches, is 33rd-best; and freshman outside hitter Sydney Marlow’s 211 kills are within the top 30 at No. 29 aid in highlighting the Mustangs’ digits. Morningside rebounded from a tough loss to the University of Jamestown on Sept. 25 with a Sept. 26 matinee behind a straight-set victory over the Valley City State. Jamestown, currently ranked second in the nation, extended its win streak against Morningside to eight straight, as the Mustangs, beleaguered by errors, fell 25-13, 25-17, and 25-12. While a tough loss, the match against the Jimmies was not without highlights, especially set two. Mside stayed close after the Jimmies broke a 9-9 tie but stalled out, down 20-17, while Jamestown powered forward to score its final five points, claiming the set. Morningside had 22 kills in the match, led by sophomore middle hitter Meredith Hoffman and Marlow, each with six. Creason accounted for 13 of the Mustangs’ 19 assists. The defense was also held quiet, with Shoquist picking up a team-high ten digs, nearly half of the squad’s 23. The visitors had just one block in the match courtesy of freshman outside hitter Kenna Howard and Marlow, each credited with a block assist. Sunday’s bounce-back occurred with a 25-18, 2624, 25-17 victory, a match that was in stark contrast to the previous day’s contest. Morningside recorded 49 kills, led by Marlow, one of three attackers for the visitors registering a .400+ kill percentage. Hoffman and freshman outside hitter Emerson Smith each followed Marlow with 11 kills. The tandem of Creason and freshman setter Bridget Smith registered 39 of the team’s 45 assists in the match, with the senior recording 22 and freshman notching 17. Morningside’s defense knocked down six balls for blocks, led by Rolls and Howard, with three block assists each. Shoquist again led the subterranean efforts with 18 digs. The setters slid in second and third, with Smith recording 17 digs and Creason 14. A trio of offensive attackers has led Briar Cliff over 15 contests. Senior outside hitter Abbie Ericson, sophomore outside hitter Chloe Johnson and sophomore middle hitter Toria Andre make up the group. Johnson has 144 to her credit, followed by Ericson (132) and Andre (102). Senior setter Maureen Imrie (266 assists), senior
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