Graceland Drops Home Match to No. 3 Missouri Valley Despite Strong Third Set

LAMONI, Iowa — Graceland University men's volleyball battled hard in front of the home crowd Tuesday evening at the Lamoni-based Morden Center, but ultimately fell in four sets to No. 6 Missouri Valley College. The Vikings secured the match 25-16, 25-18, 22-25, 25-10, improving their overall record to 17-2 and 13-2 in the Heart of America Athletic Conference (HAAC). The Yellowjackets dropped to 2-21 overall and 1-16 in conference play.

Missouri Valley entered the contest ranked inside the NAIA top 10, and their balance across all phases was on full display. The Vikings hit .365 as a team and registered 48 assists, controlling the tempo through consistent side-out volleyball and efficient transition swings.

Graceland found its offensive rhythm in the third set, using strong serving and improved first contacts to extend rallies and convert out-of-system opportunities. The Yellowjackets capitalized on key Missouri Valley attack errors and received critical production from senior outside hitter Elijah Kline and sophomore setter Luis Garcia.

Kline led Graceland with 12 kills on 35 attempts, while Garcia dished out 25 assists and chipped in with seven digs. Sophomore outside Kalanikapu Aona added seven kills, and freshman libero AJ Rasquero paced the backcourt with 12 digs.

Missouri Valley was paced by outside hitter Pierro Porras, who delivered 11 kills on .381 hitting. Fellow attackers Vasil Stoimenov and Luca Hasse each added eight or more kills while hitting above .375. The Vikings' front line combined for 17 total blocks, effectively closing down Graceland's pin hitters in key moments.

Despite the loss, Graceland showed clear signs of growth, particularly in set three where they rallied from multiple deficits to outlast Missouri Valley 25-22.

"We had a great third set playing clean volleyball, showcasing the improvements we have made," said Graceland head coach Eric Majors. "Missouri Valley is a strong, experienced team, and their maturity ultimately decided the match."

The Yellowjackets were out-hit .365 to -.028 over the match, but led in service aces with six. Freshman Andrew Cziep added seven kills and two aces, despite a negative hitting percentage, while Garcia's presence as a primary setter continued to fuel Graceland's ball movement.

In set one, Missouri Valley opened on a 7-2 run behind kills from Samuel Essilfie and Porras, forcing Graceland into early defensive adjustments. Graceland momentarily cut the deficit behind an ace from Malakai Moua, but Missouri Valley closed the set with four unanswered points.

Set two saw Graceland stay close early, tying the set 10-10 after an ace from Christopher Sawyer. However, consecutive blocks by Jackson Gonzalez and a kill from Martin Tseyera allowed the Vikings to pull away.

The third set proved to be Graceland's best of the evening. With improved ball control and a sharper serve-receive pattern, the Yellowjackets built a 16-10 lead after a Benjamin Gorton-Hulgerth ace and a pair of Kline kills. Missouri Valley called timeout and mounted a comeback, but Graceland held off the late surge with a block assist by Kline and a final kill from the senior to seal the 25-22 win.

Missouri Valley reasserted itself in the fourth set, opening with a 10-4 run. The Vikings closed out the match with an 8-0 stretch featuring four team blocks and back-to-back aces from Matheus Curi.

With just a handful of matches remaining in the regular season, the Yellowjackets continue to emphasize player development and consistency in serve-receive, two areas highlighted during the third-set win.

The Yellowjackets will take on Missouri Baptist University Friday evening at 7 p.m. in the Morden Center.

For more information on Graceland men's volleyball and all of Graceland athletics, visit GUjackets.com.