Pride win second-straight in non-conference four setter over Viterbo

LACROSSE, Wis. - For the first time in the early part of the 2023 season, the Clarke University men's volleyball team earned a second-consecutive win with a 3-1 win over Viterbo University on Tuesday night.

The Pride were able to pull off wins in the first two sets before Viterbo extended the match into the fourth set, where Clarke would eventually pull the match out 25-22, 25-17, 24-26, and 25-22.

Pulling out the first set win was key for CU as they trailed 21-18 and even hit for a .053 hitting percentage by the end of the set but a 6-0 run behind the serve of setter Erik Schmidt to lead 24-21 and eventually win that set 25-22.

Schmidt would finish with a season-high 42 assists while provided five digs, two kills, two blocks, and an ace over the four sets as the senior hands had 42 of the team's 50 assists on their 55 kills in the match.

Clarke's hitting percentage improved to over .200 for each of the following three sets, including a match-high .394 in the third set loss as the efficiency on offense was led by middle Stephen Lewandowski and right side Justin Hernandez, as Hernandez led all players with a career-high 16 kills and a .382 hitting percentage while Lewandowski added 11 kills for a .444 hitting percentage.

Tye Ojala led the left side of the attack with 12 kills on 35 swings but had a few more errors to drop his hitting percentage to a still respectable .171 for the match. Ojala added a match-high 15 digs for his first double-double of the season as libero Nick Palatine was also in double figures in digs with 11.

The Pride will return home for their next two matches starting with a Friday night Heart of America Athletic Conference matchup with Missouri Valley College for a 7:00 p.m. CT scheduled first serve.