Morningside bowed out of the GPAC Volleyball Post-Season Tournament with a loss at Midland in the quarterfinals.

Morningside bowed out of the GPAC Volleyball Post-Season Tournament with a 25-22, 26-24, 25-19 loss against Midland on Saturday in Fremont, Neb., in a quarterfinal round matchup of nationally ranked teams.

Midland, ranked 11th in the most recent NAIA Top 25 Poll, improved its record to 19-8 and advanced to a semifinal round match against regular season GPAC champion Hastings, while the 20th-ranked Mustangs saw their record go to 18-12. Eleven of the Mustangs’ defeats are against nationally ranked opponents.

Morningside senior Jenn Buyert pounded a match-high 13 kills for her team-high 12th double figure performance of the season. Brittni Olson and Jayde Bergmann each contributed seven kills to the Mustangs’ attack, followed by Emma Gerber with six kills.

Nikki Oberfoell led the Mustangs’ defensive court coverage with 13 digs. Bergmann, Megan Gourley and Callie Alberico each had seven digs, followed by Merrin Van Velzen with six.

Olson was the Mustangs’ top defender at the net with four block assists.

Alberico dealt 30 assists and had two of the Mustangs’ four ace serves. Ashley Boer had the other two aces.

The Mustangs almost came back from a big deficit before they dropped the first set 25-22. The Mustangs trailed 22-16 before they reeled off six straight points to catch the Warriors at 16. Buyert slammed a pair of kills during the rally. Alberico also had a kill before Boer tied the score with an ace serve.

Midland withstood the Mustangs’ charge, however, and took the lead for good at 23-22 on a kill by Jordan Lempka.

Two kills by Olson along with kills by Gerber and Buyert helped stake the Mustangs to an early 5-1 lead in the second set. The score was tied at 17 before Midland went ahead to stay at 18-17 on a kill by Priscilla O’Dowd.

Midland never trailed in the third set and took the lead for good at 10-9 on a kill by Jenny Blair.

Box Score