Eagles Outlast V-Hawks in Nailbiter

LA CROSSE, Wis. – The Viterbo University Men's Volleyball dropped a home non-conference matchup with Edgewood College on Thursday night, 3-2 (28-30, 25-14, 25-22, 25-27, 12-15). The V-Hawks fall to 6-8 (0-1 NSAA), while the Eagles improve to 5-8.

Guven Gedikoglu recorded the first kill of the match for the V-Hawks, then Dane Kerkman scored two straight off a kill and SJ Nelson-assisted block for the 7-4 lead. The Eagles were able to even the score and after a Gedikoglu solo block, EC took a 16-13 lead. The teams traded runs and found themselves tied at 22-22. Kerkman, Nelson, and Ethan Davis all produced kills late, and Alex Kratzenstein and Caleb Koza combined for a block, but Edgewood won, 30-28.

Viterbo instantly took control of the second, with Nelson's two aces and another Gedokoglu solo block fueling an 11-1 start. Davis and Kratzenstein persisted on offense to keep Viterbo in control, and a final 5-2 run for the 25-14 win saw two Kerkman kills and one from Logan Amdur.

More Nelson aces, and one from Max Dugan, helped the V-Hawks jump out to another big lead in the third, 10-2. EC was able to close it back within three, but after an Amdur kill Viterbo extended the lead again. Justin Kratzenstein and Kerkman blocked a kill, followed by a Kerkman ace, while Gedikoglu and A. Kratzenstein ended the set, 25-22.

Viterbo produced another hot start in the fourth, 10-4, behind Eagle errors, a Kerkman ace, and a Gedikoglu solo block. Edgewood closed the defoicit, and after an A. Kratzenstein kill, the teams traded the next 14 points. EC would go on a run for the 22-21 lead, and despite a late Kerkman kill, would take the fourth 27-25.

After ceding the first two points of the deciding set, the V-Hawks battled back for a 5-4 lead behind Nelson, A. Kratzenstein, and EC errors. Nelson then made it 10-8, but Edgewood took over late for the 15-12 final set victory.

A. Kratzenstein led four V-Hawks in double-digit kills with 14 on .344 attacking percentage, Gedikoglu had 11, and Kerkman and Nelson each posted 10. Amdur dished 49 assists with 16 digs, Dugan recorded 25 digs, and Gedikoglu had five blocks. Gavin Patterson had 15 kills for the Eagles.

Viterbo returns to action on Saturday, February 24 at UW-Stevens Point.