Mustangs score victory via the sweep in home opener

SIOUX CITY, IOWA – The Mustangs opened their home court today, welcoming Viterbo's V-Hawks to the Rosen Verdoorn Sports Center. Morningside, coming off four matches over the last two days in the Park University Invitational, started slow, but worked to a 3-0 sweep of their visitors, 25-23, 25-23, 25-15.

The Mustangs' road to the win in the home opener was anything but easy, coming back from a 14-7 deficit in set one. Despite the slow start, the match reached the point that head coach Noah Marasco-Ayau was comfortable swapping out some of his veterans for fresh legs in the third set.

Natan Alves led Morningside's attack, tallying 11 kills at a .333 percentage. Mohamed Benkrid followed with eight across two sets, Sam Benick had seven, and Liam Lutz totaled five. Jacob DePauw racked up 38 assists and four kills before handing the reins to Gabe Schreck late in set three.

Owen Anderson scooped up 11 digs on the day, Tucker Juhnke had six, and Alves had five. Tharen Cox had three block assists to lead the Mustangs, while Benick had a solo block and an assist and Benkrid had a pair of block assists.

Morningside gets a short break in action ahead of their conference opener against Dordt on Tuesday, Feb. 11.