Mount Mercy University - Cedar Rapids, Iowa

Balanced Mustangs roll by Judson

ELGIN, Ill. - Mount Mercy Coach Paul Gavin predicted the Mustangs would have a balanced attack this season.

So far he's right on the money.

The balanced Mustangs outscored Judson by 20 points in the second half Friday night and opened the 2014-15 basketball season with an 84-63 victory at the Lindner Fitness Center in Elgin, Ill.

How's this for balance: Eight Mustangs scored 12, 10, 10, 9, 9, 8, 8 and 8 points in the triumph.

Dondre Osborne led the way for Mount Mercy with 12 points. Ian Matos and Da'Quan Moore netted 10 apiece. Kevin Price-Major and Kyle Lamaak scored nine points. Alex Houston, Ben Struss and James Boonstoppel had eight points apiece.

Mount Mercy led by a slim point at halftime, 36-35, but the Mustangs dominated the second half.

MOUNT MERCY (84): Houston 3 2-7 8, Osborne 4 3-5 12, Matos 4 2-2 10, Moore 4 0-0 10, Struss 4 0-0 8, Boonstoppel 2 2-2 8, Murdock 0 0-0 0, Johnson 1 1-2 3, Misener 2 0-0 5, Price-Majors 4 1-4 9, Lamaak 3 3-6 9, Gogg 1 0-0 2. Totals 32 14-28 84.

JUDSON (63): Eck 3 2-3 10, Woodhouse 2 4-4 9, Galloway 2 0-0 4, Schwarz 3 4-6 10, Jackson 2 0-0 4, Pearson 5 2-4 12, Thomas 1 0-0 2, Goldston 0 0-0 0, Burton 1 0-0 2, Giilespie 0 0-0 0, Hill 2 0-0 6, McElrath 1 2-2 4, Graupmann 0 0-0 0. Totals 22 14-19 63.

Halftime - Mount Mercy 36, Judson 35. 3-point goals - Mount Mercy 6 (Boonstoppel 2, Moore 2, Osborne 1, Misener 1), Judson 5 9Eck 2, Hill 2, Woodhouse 1). Fouled out - none.

Culver-Stockton sweeps Mustangs

Culver-Stockton raised its record to 19-9 with a 25-20, 25-18, 26-24 Midwest Collegiate Conference volleyball win Thursday night at Hennessey Recreation Center.

Megan Paustian and Leslie Hoffman led the Mustangs (14-22) with 10 kills apiece. Samantha Meyer had a match-high 20 digs. Abbie Perez chipped in with 30 assists.

Mount Mercy women eye next step

Aaron Jennings never wrote down "women's basketball coach" when he was asked for his career goals while attending Northwestern University.

He knew he wanted to coach when his playing days were over, but women's basketball? It never entered his mind.

Now Jennings is beginning his seventh year as the women's basketball coach at Mount Mercy and loves it. "Honestly, I don't think I ever thought about being a women's basketball coach until I applied for the job," he said Tuesday.

Jennings was not being chauvinistic at the time. He spent four years as an assistant coach for the men's basketball team at Mount Mercy and figured he'd become a head coach for a men's team somewhere when the time was right, but he enjoys working at Mount Mercy and saw no reason to move when the women's basketball job became available.

He has compiled a 119-76 record with the Mustangs, including a trip to the quarterfinals of the NAIA Division II national tournament in 2012.

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Mustangs sweep Waldorf in volleyball

Abbie Perez collected 30 assists Tuesday night as Mount Mercy swept Waldorf, 25-11, 25-19 25-19, in a college volleyball match at the Hennessey Recreation Center.

Leslie Hoffmann contributed 12 kills for the Mustangs. Cori Peterzalek had 11 kills and nine digs. Megan Paustian furnished nine kills and Samantha Meyer had 15 digs.

Mount Mercy raised its record to 14-20 overall. Waldorf fell to 14-21.