[Volleyball] Mustangs make successful season debut

CEDAR RAPIDS, Iowa -- The Mount Mercy volleyball team opened the 2011 season with three wins in four matches at their own Zio Johno's Mustang Invitational on Friday and Saturday at Hennessey Recreation Center.

It didn't take long for a couple Mustangs to reach impressive milestones. First was senior setter Janae Rosien, who picked up her 1,000th assist in Friday's second match against York (Neb.). She is currently nine in career assists with 1,079.

Junior outside hitter Brittney Thomas also joined an elite group with her 1,000th kill in Saturday's match with Avila (Mo.). Thomas had 504 kills as a freshman and is already seventh on Mount Mercy's all-time chart with 1,014. Amy Osenbaugh owns the school record with 1,283 kills in four seasons as a Mustang.

Mount Mercy won both matches on day one of the tournament, defeating Mayville State (N.D.), 25-22, 25-16, 25-21, and York (Neb.), 25-21, 21-25, 25-20, 25-21. Thomas led the Mustangs with 11 kills and senior outside hitter Becca Lampe added 10 in the opener against the Comets. Rosien had 23 assists, while sophomore libero Meghan Nelson collected 20 digs.

Thomas and Lampe led the way again against York, finishing with 16 and 15 kills, respectively. Senior middle blocker Deidre Schaefer chipped in 12 kills. Rosien tallied 31 more assists, and Thomas had a team-high 20 digs.

The Mustangs won their third consecutive match, sweeping Missouri Valley, 25-22, 25-19, 25-22 in Saturday's opener. Lampe posted a team-best 16 kills, while Thomas added 12 kills and 22 digs. Rosien finished with 19 assists and junior setter Riley Banes had 16.

Avila (Mo.) needed five sets, but eventually ended Mount Mercy's three-match win streak with a 25-23, 27-25, 24-26, 18-25, 15-10 victory over the Mustangs in Saturday's finale. Thomas, Lampe and Schaefer combined for 63 kills. Thomas led the team in kills (26) and digs (21) to go along with a pair of solo blocks. Lampe added 20 kills and 15 digs, Schaefer 17 kills and five blocks. Rosien ended up with 37 assists, Banes 28.

Mount Mercy is back in action on Thursday, taking on intra-city rival Coe at 7:30 p.m. at Eby Fieldhouse.