Men's Volleyball Halted in Fifth Set by the No. 7 Mustangs
Lamoni, Iowa - The Graceland University Men's Volleyball took on the No. 7 Mount Mercy University Mustangs and were defeated after five sets of play, 3-2. The Yellowjackets move to 3-9 on the season and remain at 1-7 in conference play.
Graceland (3-9; 1-7) vs. Mount Mercy (11-2; 8-2)
Set 1: Graceland 19 | Mount Mercy 25
The Yellowjackets put up three to start the first set. The Mustangs would find a 5-1 point scoring run to take the lead by one (3-4). A kill from Will Simmers would break the Mustang's run. Both teams would trade point for point. Mount Mercy would find some room and collect a 6-1 to increase their lead to six points (17-23). Isaac Elliott's kill would interrupt their run, and the Mustangs stanched the last point to take the set.
Set 2: Graceland 25 | Mount Mercy 19
Both teams came out competitive to trade points. The Mustangs would take the first lead cashing in 8-2 run to lead by three. The Yellowjackets would retaliate off of the kill from Jeremiah Ta'amu to go 7-0 (19-14); blocks by Will Simmers and Isaac Elliott contributed. Graceland would continue to grow their lead; kills from Simmers, Rylon Raczka, and Jeremiah Ta'amu would add to the points. Graceland would take set two to even the match.
Set 3: Graceland 18 | Mount Mercy 25
Mount Mercy would push their lead early and start with a 5-1 advantage. The Yellowjackets would close their gap to two points with a 5-1 scoring run (14-16); Nicodemus Elliott and Rylon Raczka contributed with kills. The Mustangs would extend their lead to seven and claim the third set.
Set 4: Graceland 26 | Mount Mercy 24
Graceland took control of the set early from behind the service of Sean Malaki to put a 4-0 lead up. The Yellowjackets would increase their advantage to nine (19-10), blocks by Malakai Christian, Rylon Raczka, and Will Simmers, along with kills from Nicodemus Elliott and Isaac Elliott. The Mustangs would respond to close their deficit and tie the set at 20-20. Both teams would fight to take the edge. N.Elliott would give the Yellowjackets the advantage and two attack errors from Mount Mercy. Graceland would take the fourth set.
Set 5: Graceland 10 | Mount Mercy 15
Graceland would start on the board first with a kill from Jeremiah Ta'amu, dished out by Sean Malaki. The Mustangs would answer with an 8-0 run to take the lead (8-1). The Yellowjacket would work for a 7-2 jump to close the gap to two points (10-12). Mount Mercy was able to capture the last three points to take the win
Graceland Leaders-
DIGS: Logan Book – 13
KILLS: Rylon Raczka – 14
SERVICE ACES: Jeremiah Ta'amu – 3
BLOCKS: Will Simmers – 4
Mount Mercy Leaders-
DIGS: Tiago Almeida – 21
KILLS: Brian Lynch – 13
SERVICE ACES: Douglas Fofano – 4
BLOCKS: Ryan Tilkens / Bo Brainerd – 5
Up Next:
The Yellowjackets will be back on their home court on Saturday, February 25, when they take on the Clarke (Iowa) University Pride. Game time is set for 3:00 pm.
-Yellowjackets-