Mustang
WOMEN’S VOLLEYBALL WEDNESDAY, AUG. 25
The 17-match Great Plains Athletic Conference schedule gets underway this evening on Morningside University’s home floor inside the Allee Gymnasium of the Rosen-Verdoorn Sports Center. Dordt University, ranked fifth on the initial National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics’ poll, is the guest of head coach Jessica Squier’s Mustangs. The Defenders, coached by Chad Hanson, raise the curtain on their year tonight. Morningside is coming off a highly successful outing at the Kansas Collegiate Athletic Conference Fall Fling, where they went 3-1 Aug. 20-21.
ABOUT THE SERIES Dordt holds an all-time 37-24-7 lead against their southern Siouxland rivals. However, last fall, Squier’s program stopped a 13-match skid against DU with a memorable four-set win at Allee that helped highlight Homecoming 2020 festivities. It was part of a season split.
THE MATCH-UP Morningside registered three sweeps during last weekend’s Kansas Collegiate Athletic Conference Fall Fling. “These matches got us started in the right direction,” Squier said. “This team is very versatile, and we plan on using that to the best of our ability.” Three front liners topped the offensive output. The freshman tandem of outside hitter Sydney Marlow and Claire Wilson tallied 43 and 32 successful attacks. Junior outside hitter Ryley Rolls added 23 kills during a two-day span during which Mside hit .139. “We have a go-getter mentality. It’s been enjoyable working with this team so far because they’re willing to jump in and do whatever,” Squier noted. Wilson was a demanding customer offensively and defensively for the opposition. She also put up ten blocks to go with her 32 kills. Freshman setter Gillian DePauw wasn’t afraid to mix it up at the front, either with 12 kills, tying sophomore Meredith Hoffman at the top of the stat chart. “Light has been shed on what we are good at and what areas we need to work on,” Squier reflected at the weekend’s end. “This team continues to raise the bar every practice. I’m excited to see their progression.” Dordt was picked for a third-place finish on the annual league preseason coaches poll. The Defenders were one of three programs gaining 100 ranking points, joining the favorite University of Jamestown and second-place pick Midland University. Hanson’s group has plenty of firepower upfront. Junior outside hitters Corrina Timmermans and Brenna Krommendyk powered more than 200 kills last season and combined for more than 150 blocks. Senior setter/outside hitter Alli Timmermans wasn’t far behind with 180 kills and 49 blocks. The one-two setter punch of senior Corina Beimers and junior Megan Raszler returns after nearly 1,000 assists between them. Morningside returns to tournament play Friday and Saturday, Aug. 27 and 28. They’re part of the team roster for the Missouri Valley College Invitational. They’ll face the Benedictine University of Kansas, Williams Baptist University of Arkansas, Stephens College of Missouri, and Southwestern College of Kansas.