Viterbo Falls to Clarke in Four Sets

LA CROSSE, Wis. - The Viterbo University Men's Volleyball team took on the Clarke University Pride (Iowa) at home on Valentine's Day. The V-Hawks fell to the Pride 1-3 (22-25, 17-25, 26-24, 22-25) bringing their overall record to 3-8 (1-3 CCAC) while Clarke moved up to 4-6 overall. 

Viterob got a slight lead to start the first set up 8-4 with three kills by Jacob Nonn. The Pride answered back scoring the next five points in a row taking the lead 8-9. The teams traded points tieing at 15-15 before a back-to-back errors by Clarke allowed the V-Hawks to reclaim their lead 19-16. Clarke answered back getting within one point of the V-Hawks and forcing a Viterbo timeout at 21-20. The Pride scored the next four points of the game with a service ace by Erik Schmidt and Clarke now leading 21-24. Nonn added another kill for the V-Hawks before Clarke ended set one 22-25.

Set two started off with Clarke taking the lead 2-6 with two kills by Curtney Germaine. Nonn helped Viterbo tighten the gap contributing two kills and bringing the V-Hawks within one point of the Pride, 10-11. Clarke quickly took the lead again adding three kills leading 14-19. The V-Hawks tried to regain momentum but it wasn't enough and the Pride claimed set two, 17-25.

The teams traded points to start off set three tieing at 8-8 with Alex and Justin Kratzenstein each adding a kill. A few errors by the Pride helped the V-Hawks take the lead 15-11 and forced a timeout by Clarke. Clarke got within two points of Viterbo before the V-Hawks stretched their lead 20-15 with a kill by J. Kratzenstein. The Pride answered back scoring the next four points of the game with Justin Hernandez adding two kills for Clarke. An error by Viterbo tied the game 21-21 before the V-Hawks reclaimed their lead 23-21. Each team scored once before Stephen Lewandowski added two kills tieing the game again at 24-24. An error followed by a kill by V-Hawk Caleb Koza brought Viterbo the win in set three (26-24).

Viterbo gained a slight lead in set four up 8-6 with three kills by Joe Todd. The teams went back and forth tieing the game tieing the game at 10-10 and again at 13-13. A kill and block assist by A. Kratzenstein allowed Viterbo to gain the lead 18-15. The V-Hawks kept up their lead before Clarke put up four points in a row helping them take the lead 20-21. A kill by Todd tied the game at 21-21 before Lewandowski added back-to-back kills for the Pride putting them up 21-23. Todd added one more kill before Clarke finished set four defeating the V-Hawks 22-25.

Nonn led the V-Hawks with 14 kills followed by Todd with 10. Wiest added 18 assists and 15 digs. Amdur also contributed 18 assists. Banda added 10 digs.

Justin Hernandez led the Pride with 16 kills and 4 block assists. Ojala added 12 kills and 15 digs. Schmidt contributed 42 assists. Nick Palatine added 11 digs.

Viterbo will stay at home to battle Olivet Nazarene University (Ill.) on Saturday, February 18 at 1:00 PM CST.