Mt. Mercy Volleyball

Can you dig it? Lauren Stopko can

Lauren Stopko has shattered the school record for digs for the Mount Mercy University volleyball team with a whopping 2,463 for her remarkable four-year career.

She's also among the career leaders for the Mustangs in bright smiles, energy and leadership.

"Lauren is an outstanding kid," Mount Mercy Coach Deb Marlin said Tuesday night. "She's a hard worker in the gym and she has extremely high expectations for herself.

"I think the girls look up to her."

Stopko, from Clear Creek Amana High School, stepped right into the lineup as a freshman at Mount Mercy in 2015 and has never slowed down. She collected 777 digs as a freshman and has 688 this year with a few weeks left in the regular season.

Stopko had 23 digs Tuesday night as Mount Mercy swept Briar Cliff, 25-20, 27-25, 25-20, in a non-conference match at the Hennessey Recreation Center. She notched her 23rd and final dig on set point as the Mustangs raised their record to 18-12.

Stopko, the libero at Mount Mercy, will probably finish her college career with more than 2,500 digs.

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Graceland trims Mustang volleyball

LAMONI - The Mount Mercy women's volleyball team suffered another tough loss Saturday with a 25-15, 27-29, 18-25, 25-20, 15-13 setback in a Heart of America Conference match to Graceland.

The Mustangs enjoyed a 2-1 lead after three sets, but they could not finish the match with a victory.

Kayla Daggett dished out 45 assists for Mount Mercy. Becca Thomson had 20 kills, Maddie Bell 12 and Alyssa Weldon 11. Lauren Stopko had 33 digs and Sam Whalen 23.

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Mustangs fall short at Peru State

PERU, Neb. - The Mount Mercy women's volleyball team pushed Peru State  to the limit Friday but fell short, 3-2, in a Heart of America  Conference match in Nebraska.

The Mustangs won the first set, 25-12, but Peru State captured the  second set 25-18 to square the match.

Mount Mercy took the third set, 25-22, for a 2-1 lead, but Peru State  countered again with a 25-22 victory to square the match again.

Mount Mercy raced to an 8-3 lead in the fifth and decisive set, but  Peru State got hot and won 15-11 for the victory.

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Mount Mercy volleyball trims Statesmen

OSKALOOSA - Alyssa Weldon, Becca Thomson and Maddie Bell combined for  60 kills Tuesday night as Mount Mercy edged William Penn in a Heart of  America Conference volleyball match, 25-22, 21-25, 26-28, 25-17, 15-7,  in Oskaloosa.

Weldon collected 25 kills, Bell had 21 and Thomson added 14 as the  Mustangs won the marathon contest after trailing 2-1 after three sets.

Thomson furnished 23 digs, Weldon 19 and Kayla Daggett 15. Daggett  also distributed 56 assists in the comeback victory.

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