V-Hawks Take Down Another Top 10 Opponent

FREMONT, Neb. – The Viterbo University Women's Volleyball team, ranked #7 in the NAIA Top 25 Preseason Coaches Poll, notched another top 10 win on Saturday as they took down #9 Midland University (Neb.), 3-1 (24-26, 28-26, 25-16, 25-19) in their final game at the Midland University Showcase. The V-Hawks improve to 7-1, while the Warriors drop to 3-2.

Despite a few errors, Midland would build a 4-9 lead to start the opening set. Back-to-back kills by Kenzie Winker, followed by one form McGrath would start to chip away at the lead, and Jada Mitchell would put down another kill assisted by Maddie Connor to bring the score to 13-15. Cailie Kowal recorded a service error, then set up Winker to tie the score at 17-17, and Midland put Viterbo up 20-18. After Grace Rohde, Connor, and Mitchell's kills had VU up 23-21, Abby Ringler led a rally for Midland, and they stole the set, 24-26.

The teams would trade points early to start the second set, with Mitchell pacing the V-Hawks offense, and McGrath and Sadie Treptow combining for a block. However, Ringler's kill started a 7-0 run by the Warriors that included a Brena Mackling ace and ended with two consecutive Ringler blocks. An error final ended the run with the V-Hawks trailing 8-15, and would lead by as much as 12-21 when Rodhe recorded four straight kills, prompting a Midland timeout. It would then be time for Viterbo's 7-0 run, which included a Rodhe ace, a Treptow-Mitchell block, and three consecutive Winker kills for the 24-23 lead. MU took a 25-26 lead, but on match point, Kenidi McCabe recorded a kill, followed by a Midland error, and a Winker kill for the comeback set win.

The Warriors helped the V-Hawks to start the third with six early errors leading to a 9-3 VU lead. Connor and McGrath teamed up for a block, Rodhe had two consecutive kills, and Mia Quist a service ace to extend that advantage to 13-5. Mitchell and Rohde would lead the offense as the V-Hawks kept a comfortable lead the entire set, leading to a 25-16 win.

Winker would lead the offense to start the fourth set, with four kills alongside a McCabe ace for the 8-3 lead. Mitchell had three kills and a Rodhe-assisted block during a 6-0 V-Hawk run, en route to a 16-7 lead. The Warriors defense would then come alive, as they blocked five V-Hawk attempts during a 8-2 run. Winker would end the run with a kill and a solo block, and Rodhe ended the set with a kill and a Mitchell-assisted block, 25-19.

Winker led all players with 23 kills, Rohde had 17 kills, and Mitchell had 16 on .444 hitting. Connor had 54 assists, tying her for third most in any four-set match in school history. McCabe led with 19 digs, while Connor (14) and Rohde (13) each also reached double digits. McGrath also added five blocks.

Addy Mosier led Midland with 13 kills, Mackling had 24 assists, Delanie Vallinch had a game-high 26 digs, and Jacki Apel and Lauryn Samuelson each had seven blocks.

Viterbo returns to action on Friday, September 1 against Providence University (Mont.) at the College of Saint Mary (Neb.) Labor Day Classic.