V-Hawk Men's Volleyball battles tough opponents over the weekend

By Thomas Robson, Athletics Communications Intern

LA CROSSE, Wis. - The Viterbo University Men's Volleyball (6-8) team fell to (RV) Saint Xavier University (13-1) and (RV) Mount Mercy (9-5) at R.W. Beggs Senior Gymnasium on Saturday. This ended a three-match win streak for the V-Hawks. The V-Hawks lost to Saint Xavier University in four sets, (21-25, 25-20, 19-25, 12-25). In the second matchup of the day, the V-Hawks also dropped to Mount Mercy in four sets losing, (27-25, 19-25, 18-25, 20-25).

Match 1 – Saint Xavier 3, Viterbo 1

• Saint Xavier started the match off hot going on a 6-0 run. The V-Hawks responded with a pair of kills by Brett Thompson (Sr. - West Salem, Wis.) to cut the deficit to 3. The set continued to be played point for point with Saint Xavier winning 21-25.
• The V-Hawks started the set with a service run from Thomas Robson (Sr. - Middleton, Wis.) taking a 6-2 lead over the Cougars. A handful of errors towards the end of the set allowed for Viterbo to capitalize and take the second set 25-20.
• Set three was neck-and-neck with 13 ties. An ace, along with a couple V-Hawk errors, allowed for Saint Xavier to close out on the third.
• Fourth set was Cougars all the way. Saint Xavier opened with a 7-1 lead. The took control and never looked back holding the V-Hawks to a -.156 clip.

VU Leaders: Brett Thompson 10 kills, Andrew Lepage (Jr. - Cross Plains, Wis.) 24 assists, and Thomas Robson had nine digs.

Match 2 – Mount Mercy 3, Viterbo 1

• Viterbo came out firing in the first set winning a close battle 27-25. The V-Hawks hit a clip of .289 only committing 3 errors the entire set, which helped them edge out the Mustangs.
• Viterbo started off slow giving the Mustangs an 8-1 advantage. Viterbo then answered back with a seven-point run of their own behind aggressive serving form Jacob Nonn (Jr. - Cross Plains, Wis.).
• The set proceeded to go back and forth until late in the match when the Mustangs capitalized on a run of Viterbo
• errors. The V-Hawks couldn't recover, and Mount Mercy took the second set.
• Set three started similar to the second set. Mount Mercy went on a 6-0 run to begin. The Mustangs held Viterbo to a .000 clip. The V-Hawks pulled within three points but couldn't get their offense going.
• The Mustangs continued to repeat themselves as they to a 4-1 run in the beginning of set four. Joe Todd (So. - Wauwatosa, Wis.) had a good service run paired with two aces to give Viterbo a slight advantage. The Mustangs used a string of V-Hawk errors to help them take and extend the lead. The V-Hawks made a push behind serving from Thomas Robson to pull with four until eventually falling to Mount Mercy 20-25.

VU Leaders: Jacob Nonn 13 kills, Andrew Lepage 34 assists, and Thomas Robson 20 digs.

Viterbo will host CCAC (RV) Cardinal Stritch on Tuesday. The first serve is scheduled for 7:00 pm. Follow the action on our website or by following us on social media.