Mount Mercy University - Cedar Rapids, Iowa

Mustang men booted from tourney

LAMONI - The Mount Mercy men's soccer team lost to Graceland, 4-1, in the opening round of the Heart of America Conference tournament Wednesday.

Rafael Passanha scored an unassisted goal for the Mustangs in the 49th minute to draw his team within 2-1, but Graceland struck in the 81st minute and again in the 83rd minute to secure the victory.

Mount Mercy finished the season with a 6-9-3 record. Graceland advanced with an 8-7-1 record.

Mustangs aiming for NAIA tourney again

The Mount Mercy men's basketball team played in the NAIA national tournament in 2016 and 2017, but the Mustangs failed to qualify for the tournament last season and finished with a 15-16 record.

That stunk.

"They've tasted success. So last year is supposed to stink," said Coach Aaron Jennings. "You're supposed to say, 'That's not the way things are supposed to be done here. Let's put in the work and let's get this turned around.'

"I'm coaching this year with the expectation that's happening," he said. "I'm excited to get going."

Mount Mercy has plenty of experience on the club and there's a strong senior class that's been bolstered by talented newcomers, giving Jennings lots of options heading into the season opener Thursday night at Viterbo.

"We're going to play fast, we're going to create tempo," he said, anxious to begin the season.

The Mustangs averaged 81.7 points last seasson but allowed 81.5, which led to their so-so campaign. This year Jennings would like to average 87 or 88 per game, but allow only 77 for a healthy 10-point advantage.

Read more...

Mustangs booted in Heart tourney

The Mount Mercy women's soccer team saw its season draw to a close Tuesday night with a 2-0 loss to Culver-Stockton in the first round of the Heart of America Conference tournament at the Plaster Athletic Complex.

Mount Mercy finished its season with a 7-9-2 record. The Mustangs lost their last four matches of the year and were outscored, 15-2, in those contests with two shutouts.

Culver-Stockton was the No. 9 seed in the tournament and Mount Mercy was the No. 8 seed. Culver-Stockton advances to the quarterfinals of the conference tournament.

Mustangs spike Clarke in upset victory

The Mount Mercy women's volleyball team finished the regular season in style Monday night.

The Mustangs upset Clarke, 25-21, 25-18, 19-25, 16-25, 15-6 in a Heart of America Conference match at the Hennessey Recreation Center.

Clarke arrived in town with the third-best record in the conference, but the Mustangs regrouped in the fifth set after seeing their 2-0 lead evaporate in the third and fourth sets.

Mount Mercy raised its records to 19-13 overall and 7-11 in the league. Clarke fell to 24-8 overall and 12-6 in the conference.

Mount Mercy will visit Evangel (17-16) in the first round of the Heart of America Conference tournament Wednesday night.

Read more...