Mustang
MEN’S VOLLEYBALL Friday
FRIDAY, JANUARY 21 SATURDAY, JANUARY 22 An eight-match home schedule for Morningside University rolls out this weekend with clashes against Chicagoland Collegiate Athletic Conference member Viterbo University of Wisconsin and Heart of America Conference foe the Clarke University of Iowa. First-year head coach Addison Mertler’s Mustangs follow up the home-opening weekend beginning a seven-match road trip with a visit to Ottawa University of Kansas for the 2022 Great Plains Athletic Conference curtain-raiser Tuesday, Jan. 25. They wrap up next week competing in the Clarke College Invitational in Dubuque Friday and Saturday, Jan. 28 and 29.
THE SERIES Mside seeks its first triumph against Viterbo. They took the V-Hawks to a four-set finish at home last February. Clarke holds a 5-2 advantage all-time. Each of the seven meetings has been decided in three sets.
THE MATCH-UP Sophomore outside hitter Jacob Baynes is the lone Mustangs returner from a 2021 team that finished 2-11 overall and 1-5 in the conference. He tallied 60 kills, hitting at a .074 clip, with 13 assists, seven service aces, 46 digs, and six blocks. Mertler is hoping to see plenty of fight from the 2022 program edition. “I see a lot of energy and youth, which we think can lead to a very high ceiling,” he noted. “With the development in the fall and preseason training showing us coming a long way, the guys are competing well. We want fans to see we have immense pride in Morningside and our program --- a group who enjoys the sport and competing on a high level.” Head coach Dave Simon’s Viterbo team finished 10-12 overall, including going 4-8 in the CCAC a year ago. They’re opening the new year with a Siouxland visit by going to Dordt University tomorrow after this evening’s match. The Pride of Clarke University, coached by Elle Kosciuk, got their season off a strong beginning, knocking off Augustana College of Illinois in five sets on Jan. 15. They resumed four in a row on the road taking on William Penn Jan. 19 and Dordt last night before facing the Mustangs. Senior outside hitter Michael Jenkins paced the Pride to their victory, turning in a double-double of 13 kills and 13 digs.