Kerkman's Double-Double Fuels V-Hawks Win

SIOUX CITY, Iowa – The Viterbo University Men's Volleyball team got back in the win column on Saturday afternoon with a 3-1 (27-29, 25-21, 25-22, 26-24) victory over Morningside University (Iowa). The V-Hawks improve to 5-7 (0-1 NSAA), while the Mustangs fall to 4-6.

Viterbo jumped out to a 4-1 lead early in the first behind kills from Alex Kratzenstein and Guven Gedikoglu. Dane Kerkman added a kill and an ace, but the Mustangs began to close the lead. Juan Banda and Caleb Koza helped the V-Hawks keep a slight lead, but after a Koza-Kratzenstein block, Morningside went on a run and tied the match at 24-24. Kerkman had a solo block and Logan Amdur assisted block, but MU took the first, 29-27.

Morningside then took the first three points of the second. Kerkman and Ethan Davis contributed kills to even the score, and Mustang errors gave Viterbo the 11-8 advantage. Max Dugan recorded a service ace, but Morningside came back again to tie the match at 20-20. Gedikoglu took over late with three kills as Viterbo won, 25-21.

The V-Hawks defense came alive to start the third, with three blocks as they went up 5-1. The teams traded points before MU took a 16-14 lead. Errors from the Mustangs and a Kerkman kill helped Viterbo chip away at the lead, and Gedikoglu tied the match at 21-21.he and Kerkman then ended the set with a block. 25-22.

The Mustangs continued to commit errors early in the fourth as Viterbo jumped ahead, 8-2. Amdur and Davis each had kills to fuel the offense, while Kratzenstein brought the score to 15-10. The game would again be tied down the stretch at 20-20, but Davis led the way to victory, with a late kill and Kerkman-assisted block.

Kerkman and Gedikoglu each had 12 kills, while Kerkman hit .524 and posted 11 blocks. Amdur dished 41 assists, and Banda had 26 digs. Natan Alves had 22 kills for Morningside.

The V-Hawks return to action on Tuesday, February 20 at Maranatha Baptist University.