Dordt dropped a four–set match to Morningside (15-25, 21-25, 27-25, 22-25) in Great Plains Athletic Conference play on Saturday afternoon inside the De Witt Gymnasium.  Dordt is now 2-2 in league play and 11-4 overall and will face Briar Cliff in Sioux City on Wednesday, September 24.

Box Score (PDF)

HOW IT HAPPENED

• Set 1: Dordt stormed out to a 5-0 lead behind three straight aces from Peyton Poppema and an early kill from Laney Wolfswinkel. Morningside answered with a 7–1 run highlighted by two aces from Taya Phillips and kills by Adelyn Harris and Emma Haren to swing the momentum. The Mustangs finished on a 20–10 surge, sealing the set 25-15.

• Set 2: The teams traded points early before Morningside pulled away midway with a 6–1 stretch capped by three straight kills from Emma Haren. Dordt fought back with a late push, including back-to-back aces from Carlee Jackson, trimming the deficit to 23-20. The Mustangs held off the rally for a 25-21 win.

• Set 3: Dordt stayed alive in the third with its most efficient offensive set (.178). Down 20-18, the Defenders rattled off four straight points on two service aces by Kylie Beckering and a kill by Haley Kuperus. After a tense back-and-forth at set point, kills from Myra Carlson and Ellie Dokter secured a 27-25 Dordt victory.

• Set 4: Morningside took control early, building a 10-5 lead. Dordt clawed back and tied the set at 17-all after a Wolfswinkel kill and a Poppema ace. The Mustangs answered with three quick points and held on late for a 25-22 clincher.

BY THE NUMBERS

• Kills: Morningside 49 – Dordt 44

• Hitting Efficiency: Morningside .209 – Dordt .079

• Blocks: Morningside 11.0 – Dordt 4.0

• Digs: Morningside 77 – Dordt 72

• Service Aces: Dordt 14 – Morningside 9

Dordt Leaders

• Haley Kuperus: 15 kills, .265 hitting, 3 blocks

• Laney Wolfswinkel: 9 kills, 9 digs, 2 aces

• Carlee Jackson: 21 assists, 13 digs, 3 aces

• Kylie Beckering: 22 digs, 4 service aces

• Peyton Poppema: 4 service aces, 4 early points in set one