V-Hawks Split Matches at Pirate Invitational

 PARKVILLE, Mo. – The Viterbo University Men's Volleyball team split a pair of games at the Park University (Mo.) Pirate Invitational on Saturday. The V-Hawks started the day with a 3-1 (25-23, 25-21, 19-25, 25-19) win over University of Rio Grande, then lost 3-0 (28-30, 23-25, 22-25) to Westcliff University (Calif.) . The V-Hawks now sit at 2-2 on the season.

The V-Hawks took control of the first set early, as Guven Gedikoglu recorded a trio of kills, Juan Banda added an ace, and Dane Kerman posted a solo block en route to a, 11-5 lead. Errors from URG and a Logan Amdur ace kept the V-Hawk in the lead, but after a Kerkman kill but VU ahead, 19-12, the Redstorm ran seven straight for a 19-19 lead. The teams then traded runs, but Viterbo got the last say, as Caleb Koza won the set, 25-23 with a kill.

A spread out attack by Gedikoglu, Ethan Davis, and Kerkman fueled another hot start in the second, with two consecutive Gedikoglu kills brining the lead to 15-9. However, Rio Grande put together another timely run, tying the match at 19-19. Errors by Rio Grande helped the V-Hawks stay in control, along with an Alex Kratzenstein kill, and Viterbo took the second, 25-21.

The third set started much closer, with Koza and Davis providing early kills. With the match tied at 12-12, Max Dugan put down a kill, but the Redstorm held onto a slight lead. With the match tied back at 16-16, URG erupted, only allowing two more VU points en route to a 25-129 set win.

They kept the momentum in the fourth, before Gedikoglu and Kerkman's kills, and a Gedikoglu ace put them ahead 6-7. Davis, Kratzenstein, and Gedikoglu slowly built a small lead for the V-Hawks, and Kerman's two kills and Dugan's ace led to an Amdur kill for the win, 25-19.

Gedikoglu led Viterbo with 12 kills, Amdur dished 36 assists, and Banda recorded 24 digs. Caden Donaldson had a match-high 16 kills for Rio Grande.

In the second match of the day, the teams traded a variety of errors before Viterbo found themselves ahead, 7-5. However, Westcliff managed a 6-1 run to take back control, 15-13. Davis added two kills as part of a 7-2 response by VU, but with the V-Hawks on match point, 24-22 the Warriors took the momentum again, and won, 30-28.

Viterbo went up 3-0 to start the second on two Amdur aces and a Gedikoglu-Avery Hackler block, though WU quickly battled back for a 7-6 advantage. After some errors, they extended that lead, and despite Gedikoglu and Kerman kills, led 19-14 late. Gedikoglu started a rally with a kill and Hackler-assisted block, but it came too late, with the Warriors winning, 25-23.

After four early ties in the third, Westcliff managed a small lead that thye would not relinquish. Kerkman, Kratzenstein, and Gedikoglu all recorded kills, and Amdur posted an ace, but Westcliff had an answer for each score. Logan Taylor had a kill, and Amdur, Gedikoglu, and Kratzenstein teamed up for a block, but the Warriors were victorious, 25-22.

Davis led the way for Viterbo with six kills, and Amdur had 23 assists. Ilias Lazaar had 16 kills for WU.

The V-Hawks return to action on Saturday, February 3 at Clarke University (Iowa).