Iowa Wesleyan volleyball drops opener

MT. PLEASANT — The schedule didn’t do the Iowa Wesleyan volleyball team any favors on Tuesday night.

The Tigers welcomed in a red-hot Mount Mercy team for their first game of the season. The Mustangs, who came into the contest at 6-1, ousted the Tigers in three sets.

Mount Mercy never let Iowa Wesleyan finish within single-digits. The Mustangs won sets 25-14, 25-11 and 25-15.

Despite the loss, 2022 Van Buren County graduate Shea Scott had a nice game, leading the Tigers with five kills in her first collegiate game. Madison Saia and Bethany Williams each collected three.

Alexis Hafenstine led the back line with 10 digs on the day. Malie DeMate had nine digs, and also led the squad with four assists and one service ace.

Mackenzie Springsteen dished out five assists and also collected five digs. Former New London prep Kyra Linkin had six digs and three assists. Aliyah Christensen, a 2022 New London graduate, collected three digs, as did Scott and Madison Saia.

The Tiger volleyball team will be a busy bunch in the month of September. That all starts with a tournament in Oskaloosa this weekend.

Iowa Wesleyan will head to Oskaloosa on Friday, where they will open the Jimmy John’s Classic against Graceland University at 1 p.m. The Tigers are scheduled for four games in the tourney.

Iowa Wesleyan returns home next week to play Hannibal-LaGrange University on Sept. 6, and Graceland University on Sept. 8.