MUSTANG VOLLEYBALL
2019 IN REVIEW
Morningside secures their spot in the NAIA Women’s Volleyball Championship with their win over Dakota Wesleyan University.
MORNINGSIDE VOLLEYBALL 2019: ONE FOR THE RECORD BOOKS Morningside Volleyball opened the season on a strong note, going 4-0 at the KCAC Fall Fling. The Mustangs were tested early, with no. 25 Ottawa University and receiving votes Kansas Wesleyan University both on the schedule for the second day of the twoday tournament. Morningside quickly powered past McPherson College and the University of Saint Mary in a pair of 3-0 victories in Friday volleyball action before going toe-to-toe with no. 25 Ottawa University in their Saturday morning matchup. The Mustangs started slow against Kansas Wesleyan before adjustments could be made for the remainder of the match. Morningside went on to convincing wins in sets two and three, and sealed the perfect weekend in set four.
Labor Day Classic. The Mustangs had little trouble with Rocky Mountain, before, on short rest, holding the Lourdes University Gray Wolves to less than 20 points in two of the three sets. Day two opened with a morning match against the no.23 Westmont Warriors, the same team that handed Morningside it’s last loss in 2018. Westmont came out swinging, taking set one easily, before Morningside came to life and took set their only set of the match. The Mustangs didn’t let the young season’s first loss hold them back, and quickly bounced back with a 3-0 victory over College of the Ozarks. Morningside held the Bobcats to fewer than 20 points in each of the three sets.
Morningside’s Great Plains Athletic Conference opener hosted the Flames from College of Saint Mary, a match that would prove that the GPAC was going to be as competitive as ever this season. CSM took Morningside to five sets and walked away the victor after a 17-15 deciding set, fighting off a Mustang squad that took a 2-1 lead after the first-set loss. “I think that we were outsmarted more than outplayed,” deduced Donnelly. “We played tough, we just did not adjust.” She added, “I have to give props to Britt Olson, she had a great match tonight. It’s almost like she found a different level tonight with the aggressiveness. Setting her in the middle, she was cutting balls left and right.” It didn’t take long before Morningside had a chance to bounce back, as they faced Dakota State University two days later. The Mustangs attacked the Trojans, serving aggressively and spreading the attack across multiple hitters.
“This weekend we saw what we need to work on, especially with blocking,” coach Beth Donnelly reflected. “The offense found some fluidity that wasn’t as developed in the preseason. The team proved to be versatile, transitioning from one offense to another without much of a hitch.”
“I am really pleased with the outcome of this weekend’s matches. I think we learned a lot,” analyzed Donnelly. She continued, “I think the loss to Westmont really woke up our girls and allowed them to realize that we are a high caliber team that needs to show up and play at a high level every opportunity we get.”
The second week of the season saw the Mustangs compete in the GoSarpy
The Mustangs were set to carry a 7-1 record into the start of conference play.
“We were serving a whole lot tougher tonight than we have been,” explained Donnelly after the match. “Passing was a little up and down, but when we were on a roll offensively, we were pretty
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2019 MORNINGSIDE WOMEN’S VOLLEYBALL
