V-Hawks Sweep Morningside in Game One of Triangular

LA CROSSE, Wis. – The Viterbo University Men's Volleyball team came out on top (25-13, 25-21, 26-24) against Morningside University (Iowa.), on Saturday morning. The V-Hawks are now 1-1 overall, while the Mustangs fall to 1-2.

After conceding the first point of the game, the V-Hawks rallied to earn 7 consecutive points, making the score 7-1. The teams would trade points until an ace by Juan Banda would change the trajectory of the first set.  Points by Alex Kratzenstein, Joe Todd, and Jacob Nonn brought the set to a close 25-13, leading the game 1-0.

The second set would begin with Morningside's Jacob DePauw landing 2 consecutive kills. A Morningside service error would put the V-Hawks on the board. Nathan Alves would respond, scoring 3 points for the Mustangs, putting the V-Hawks down 1-6. The teams would go on to battle back and forth for the remainder of the set, Nonn contributing 6 kills. The set would end on a Mustang service error, 25-21, putting the V-Hawks up 2-0.

In a similar fashion to the previous set, the third would be marked by the teams trading points and leads. Notably, the V-Hawks would land 3 aces and 2 blocks. Viterbo would score 3 consecutive points off of a block by Jaden Wiest and A. Kratzenstein, a kill by Weist, and a final Morningside error would seal the Mustangs' fate. Viterbo would win the set 26-24, sweeping the Mustangs.

Nonn led the V-Hawks with 13 kills and 7 digs. Banda added 8 kills followed by Kratzenstein with 6. Wiest contributed an impressive 23 assists.

Alves landed 10 kills followed by Dylan Hamil, who scored 9. Kahakai Kahoiwai added 8 kills and 10 digs. DePauw led the Mustangs in assists at 28.     

The V-Hawks will return to action later this afternoon, Saturday, January 28^th at 2:30 CST, as they play their second game of the weekend's triangular against Lakeland University (Wis.).