A LOOK AT MORNINGSIDE VOLLEYBALL’S RECENT HISTORY

AN INAUSPICIOUS START

When Beth Donnelly was announced as the next head coach for Morningside College’s volleyball program in 2015, she inherited a program that had seen a decline over the last few years and last made an appearance at the NAIA National Championship in 2012. She took the challenge head on, instituting a culture shift in the program. It’s safe to say that Donnelly’s first season didn’t go as expected, ending with an 8-20 record and just three conference wins.

THE BEGINNING OF A TURNAROUND

The new coach’s second season saw a new recruiting class and returned the Mustangs to the national stage, where they showed that they weren’t afraid to make some noise with a win over no. 7 Park University, the top seed in the Mustangs’ pool at the Tyson Events Center. The Mustangs celebrate after a point at the 2018 NAIA

The Mustangs would finish the season 20-15, jumping into the postseason top 25, claiming the no. 24 spot.

MUSTANG MINDSET

In 2017, Morningside started the season drawing national attention, entering the top 25 in the first vote of the fall. The Mustangs were absent in just two polls of the season, with their postseason run taking them into the bracket portion of the national championship after going 2-1 in pool play and earning them the no. 16 spot in the postseason poll.

The 2018 Mustangs had a lot of promise despite being a young team. Despite some big wins scattered through out the season, including wins over GPAC opponents that were ranked in the top 25, the Morningside team needed the last game of the regular season to secure its spot at the national championship.

After bowing out of the GPAC tournament in the first round, an extended break allowed the Mustangs to recuperate ahead of the national championship. The well-rested Mustangs seemed sluggish in their opening sets against no.2 Park, but found a spark in set three, nearly taking it from the Pirates.

Days two and three of the tournament saw an invigorated Morningside team, just missing a win over no. 15 Westmont in five sets, and picking up a four-set win over no. 18 Embry-Riddle.

“There was a sense of excitement,” reflected coach Beth Donnelly. “The team couldn’t wait for next season to get going … realizing we have so much depth and experience coming back.

TODAY OVER TOMORROW For 2019, coach Donnelly challenged the team to focus on today. To focus on today's practice, lifting session, or match, to avoid getting ahead and overlooking the task at hand.

“This senior group is understanding that time is fleeting in their collegiate careers. They, like the rest of the student-athletes in our program, need to give 110 percent explained Donnelly.

A trio featuring senior middle blockers Brittni Olson and Emma Gerber and junior outside hitter Krista Zenk, return to lead the offensive attack. Gerber and Zenk were one-two last fall in kills, with Zenk at 368 and Gerber finishing with 338. Olson finished the season with 212.

Senior setter Callie Alberico was a big key to those numbers, as she was just 18 assists short of 1,000 on the season.

While the offense did have impressive numbers last fall and hoped to push to another level in this season, Coach Donnelly was quick to shift focus to the defense being the overall strong area.

“Kayla Harris came in last season and opened a lot of eyes,” she said. “We knew she was good but didn’t realize the extra step she had.”

“She’ll be the young one leading the way in the back,” Donnelly continued. “We have some veterans who will add to this, with Merrin Van Velzen, Ashley Boer, and Rylie Muhlbauer.”