Hastings College Volleyball Falls in GPAC Quarterfinal to Morningside

(Sioux City, IA) – In the GPAC Quarterfinal matchup at third-seeded Morningside, the sixth-seeded Hastings Broncos split the first two sets, but lost 3-1 (27-25, 15-25, 25-14, 25-21) Mustangs on Saturday night.

Morningside took a 4-1 lead, then the Broncos won three of the next four points, getting two kills by junior Makenna Sutter and another from sophomore Londyn Carnes. Hastings went up 9-8, as senior Ilse Benne had back-to-back kills to take the lead. Tied at 10, Hastings went on a 6-0 run, getting three kills from Sutter during that stretch. At 19-14, Morningside erased the deficit with a 5-0 run to tie it. With Morningside leading 23-22, Benne and Sutter hit kills, but the Mustangs saved a set point and later took the set, 27-25.

In the second set, Hastings started strong with a 9-1 start, as Hastings hit six kills in that stretch, including three from Sutter. Leading 12-6, Morningside came back and got within one at 14-13. Hastings responded with a 7-0 run, beginning with kills by senior Mikah O'Neill, Carnes, and Sutter. With Hastings leading 23-15, Carnes and Benne hit kills to take the set, 25-15. The Broncos hit .325 in the second set.

In set three with the Mustangs leading 4-2, Carnes hit a kill. Morningside stretched the lead out to five at 9-4. Later in the set at 11-6, Morningside won three straight points on kills to go up eight. Hastings got back within six on a kill by Carnes at 17-11, but the Mustangs won five straight points and eventually took the third set, 25-14.

O'Neill had three kills early in the third, as Hastings took a 4-3 lead. With the set tied at nine, Morningside took the next three points. Hastings answered back and tied it at 12, but the Mustangs won six of the next nine points, making it 18-15. The Broncos got within two on a kill by Sutter, but Morningside won the next three points to go up 24-19. O'Neill and Sutter hit kills on the next two plays, but Morningside won the next point to end the set at 25-21.

Sutter finished with 18 kills and 12 digs. Also with double-digit kills, Carnes had 14, O'Neill had 12, and Benne had 11. Sophomore Fran Warson had 45 assists and 18 digs, while junior Lainey Benson had 29 digs and eight assists.

The loss ends Hastings' season with a 16-10 overall record and 8-8 in conference play.