Cougars Best V-Hawks in Conference Opener

LA CROSSE, Wis. – The Viterbo University Men's Volleyball lost 3-1 (17-25, 25-19, 23-25, 19-25) in their home conference opener to Saint Xavier University (Ill.) on Saturday afternoon. The V-Hawks fall to 4-5 (0-1 CCAC) on the year, while the cougars improve to 1-5 (1-0 CCAC).

Saint Xavier started the first set on a 10-2 run, with Viterbo recording their first kill from Caleb Koza coming at 10-3. Dane Kerkman added a kill before a run of SXU errors brought the score to 15-9. Max Dugan recorded an ace, and Logan Amdur posted back-to-back blocks, one assists by Kerkman, but the Cougars stayed in control, winning 25-17.

Ethan Davis had three early kills for the V-Hawks to start the second, including starting a run that but Viterbo up 9-5 following a Daxton Marschall ace. The V-Hawks led by as much as eight before Saint Xavier began to chip away at the lead. Two more service aces from Marschall helped keep VU in control, and late errors doomed the Cougars, 25-19.

Guven Gedikoglu and Koza led the offense early in third, but SXU managed a slight lead. Errors by the Cougars and back to back Gedikoglu kept Viterbo close, and Alex Kratzesntein's kill tied the match at 20-20. Davis and Kerkman contributed late kills, but it wasn't enough as Saint Xavier took the set, 25-23.

Kratzenstein and Koza combined for an early block, and Davis had a kill, but Saint Xavier errors provided the majority of the V-Hawks points. Kerkman had two straight blocks late in the set, followed by two aces from Marscahll to bring the score to 17-20, and while Kerkman and a final kill, the Cougars ended the match, 25-19.

Gedikoglu had 11 kills and eights digs in the match, Amdur dished 25 assists, and Juan Banda collected 17 digs. Matt Pennala had 17 kills for SXU, Cameron Daniels posted 33 assists, and Andres Velez had 17 digs.

The V-Hawks return to action on Wednesday, February 14 as they host #15 Mount Mercy University (Iowa).