Metro Sports Report

Haleigh Durnin of Kirkwood blocks a shot during Wednesday night's match at Johnson Hall. Number 8 for Hawkeye Community College is Hannah Mihm. (MSR photo by Margaret O'Banion)

No. 8 Eagles stung by new RedTails

Thu - 27 Sep Written by Jim Ecker

Scott Weston had an unusual recruiting pitch when he began constructing a brand-new women's volleyball program at Hawkeye Community College in Waterloo roughly a year ago.

"You beg," he said Wednesday night.

The begging worked.

The young RedTails invaded Johnson Hall with 13 freshmen and stung the eighth-ranked Kirkwood Eagles in five sets, 25-22, 20-25, 13-25, 25-18, 15-8, in an ICCAC conference match.

Weston was hired to put a new team together from scratch in August of 2017, laying the groundwork for Hawkeye's first season of competition this year. All 14 of his players are from Iowa, including a bunch from the college's fertile base Blackhawk County.

He has talented players from Waterloo, LaPorte City, Tripoli, Jesup, Reinbeck, Evansdale, Dumont, Manly and Sigourney.

"It was pretty easy," Weston maintained, "because a lot of these girls wanted to be on the ground floor of something brand new, their opportunity to put their footprint right in the program. It's worked out to our advantage so far."

Share

Mount Mercy men blank Clarke

Thu - 27 Sep Written by Metro Sports Report

DUBUQUE - Souleymane Diallo scored a pair of goals Wednesday as the Mount Mercy men's soccer team blanked Clarke University, 3-0, in a Heart of America Conference match in Dubuque.

Diallo struck in the 24th minute of the first half to give the Mustangs a 1-0 lead. Sava Dragic scored in the 87th minute for a 2-0 advantage, then Diallo scored less than two minutes later for a 3-0 lead.

Matias da Fonseca made three saves for the shutout.

Share

Pottratz helps Mustangs kick Clarke

Thu - 27 Sep Written by Metro Sports Report

DUBUQUE - Payton Pottratz booted home a pair of goals Wednesday to help the Mount Mercy women's soccer team trim Clarke University, 2-1, in a Heart of America Conference match in Dubuque.

Pottratz began the scoring with a goal in the 40th minute late in the first half for a 1-0 lead. Clarke countered in the 70th minute, but Pottratz struck again three minutes later with another unassisted goal for a 2-1 lead and the margin of victory.

Sarah Johnson played 63 minutes, 47 seconds in goal for Mount Mercy and turned away all five of the shots that Clarke sent her way.

Share

Alyssa Weldon of Mount Mercy goes to the floor to dig a shot against Grand View during Tuesday night's match at the Hennessey Recreation Center. Number 7 for Grand View is Trystin Luneckas. (MSR photo by Margaret O'Banion)

Mustangs spiked by No. 2 Grand View

Wed - 26 Sep Written by Jim Ecker

You knew the Mount Mercy women's volleyball team might be in a for a rough night Tuesday when the Grand View Vikings strolled into the gym with a shiny No. 2 national ranking and a half-dozen players who all measured at least six feet tall.

The Mustangs gave the Vikings a good battle at times but dropped a Heart of America Conference match, 25-15, 25-23, 25-16 at the Hennessey Recreation Center.

"They're a heck of a good team," said Mount Mercy Coach Deb Marlin. "The conference title is right there for them to snag. And I don't think a national championship is out of the question for them."

Grand View raised its perfect records to 13-0 overall and 5-0 in the conference. Mount Mercy fell to 13-7 overall and 3-5 in the league.

"We had to have our best game tonight," said Marlin. "And I thought we played really well at times and we played hard at times. Just crucial mistakes at crucial times."

The second set was tied, 23-23, but Grand View won the last two points for a 2-0 lead.

Share

Bruyeres takes 3rd at Mid-South golf

Wed - 26 Sep Written by Metro Sports Report

NEWTON, Kan. - William Bruyeres of Mount Mercy fired a 2-under-par 70 Tuesday and finished in third place at The Mid-South Classic at the Sand Creek Station Golf Course.

Bruyeres shot rounds of 75, 71 and 70 to finish the 54-hole tournament at even-par 216, just one shot out of first place. Carson Seals of Oklahoma City and Coleman Houk of Kansas Wesleyan shared medalist honors at 1-under 215.

Oklahoma City won the team championship by 19 shots. Mount Mercy tied for third place out of nine schools, 21 strokes off the pace.

Share