[Volleyball] Saints claim MCC thriller

CLINTON, Iowa -- Ashford withstood a Mount Mercy comeback Tuesday night and defeated the Mustangs in five games in Midwest Collegiate Conference volleyball at Kehl Arena.

Mount Mercy dropped the first two sets by identical scores of 25-21, but responded with a 25-21 victory in the third set. After the Mustangs outlasted the Saints, 29-27, in set number four, Ashford clinched the match with a 15-12 win in the fifth set.

Junior outside hitter Brittney Thomas led the Mustangs offensively with 16 kills to go along with 16 digs. She is now tied with Jess Mueller in fourth place on Mount Mercy's career kills list with 1,135 kills. Senior outside hitter Becca Lampe continues to work her way up the career charts, adding 13 kills on Tuesday to give her 1,069, which is seventh all-time.

Junior setter Riley Banes had a team-high 20 assists, senior Janae Rosien added 19. Sophomore libero Meghan Nelson had 18 digs, and junior middle blocker Allison Adams finished with five total blocks for the Mustangs (6-6, 1-1 MCC).

Mount Mercy hosts 21st-ranked Viterbo (Wis.) (13-2, 2-0 MCC) on Wednesday, Sept. 21, at 7:30 p.m. at Hennessey Recreation Center.