V-Hawks Fall in Home Opener

LA CROSSE, Wis. – The Viterbo University Men's Volleyball team dropped a home match to #7 University of Jamestown (ND) on Friday evening, 0-3 (25-8, 25-22, 25-18). The V-Hawks fall to 4-4 on the year, while the Jimmies improve to 8-0.

UJ took control of the first set quickly, jumping out to a 7-1 lead, only being interrupted by an Alex Kratzenstein kill. They stayed in control, as Viterbo scored off an Ethan Davis kill, and a Guven Gedikoglu solo block, but lost 8-25.

The second set started much closer, as Kratzenstein produced a pair of blocks assisted by Logan Amdur and Gedikoglu and Dane Kerkman put down a kill. A 7-1 V-Hawk run fueled by a Davis kill and Kerkman-assisted block brought the score to 17-15. However, the Jimmies had a run of their own as kills from Gedikoglu and Caleb Koza were not enough to stop the 25-23 UJ win.

Amdur started the third with an ace and a Kratzenstein assisted block for the 7-6 lead, but Jamestown took back the advantage, 12-8. While an error ended the run, the Jimmies kept rolling to a 19-9 lead before a Justin Kratzenstein solo block. Daxton Marschall aced a serve late, as did Davis, but the rally came too late, and UJ won, 25-18.

Kerkman had five kills for the V-Hawks, Amdur dished 16 assists, Juan Banda had seven digs, and A. Kratzenstein posted five blocks. Caydann Cox had seven kills for Jamestown, and Tysen Myers recorded seven blocks.

The V-Hawks return to action on Saturday, February 10 against #13 Saint Xavier University (Ill.).