DUBUQUE - The eighth-ranked Mount Mercy men's volleyball team clinched  at least a tie for the Heart of America Conference regular-season  title Tuesday night with a clutch victory in Dubuque.

The Mustangs trimmed Clarke, 3-2, in their final match of the league  campaign to finish the season with a 9-1 record in the conference.

Grand View, which is ranked No. 4 in the country, is currently 8-1 in  the conference and can tie Mount Mercy with a victory over Graceland  Thursday night in its final match of the regular season.

Mount Mercy and Clarke traded victories in the first four sets,  leaving the match tied at 2-2 heading into the final set. The Mustangs  prevailed, 15-11, in the fifth set to earn a share of the conference  crown.

Mount Mercy won 25-15, 20-25, 25-18, 22-25, 15-11.

The Heart of America Conference tournament will be held April 4-5-6.  Mount Mercy and Clarke will receive byes in the opening round and  advance directly to the semifinals.

Andrew Colantone rolled up 45 assists for the Mustangs. Nikola  Stoimenov had 16 kills, Ben Steffen 14, Julian Armendano nine, Strahil  Svilenski six and Colantone six in a balanced attack.

Stoimenov had four service aces and Svilenski had three. Colantone and  Justin Atienza had 11 digs, with Evan Gaskill and Armendano notching  nine apiece. Svilenski blocked four shots.

Mount Mercy raised its overall record to 19-7. Clarke fell to 10-12  overall and 6-4 in the league.