Home Rally Falls Short

LA CROSSE, Wis. – The Viterbo University Men's Volleyball team lost a CCAC conference match to Judson University (Ill.) on Monday night, 2-3 (21-25, 22-25, 25-21, 25-17, 12-15). The V-Hawks fall to 6-10 (0-2 CCAC) while the Eagles improve to 11-7 (1-1 CCAC).

The V-Hawks took an early advantage behind two SJ Nelson kills and a Logan Amdur-Dane Kerkman block. Alex Kratzenstein then recorded two straight kills, but the V-Hawks fell behind, 15-13. Amdur added a kill and Nelson recorded a late solo block, but the V-Hawks would lose, 25-21.

After a Max Dugan ace, service ace in the second, the teams traded points before a 7-1 run gave Judson a 14-8 lead. Cale Koza ended the run with a kill, followed by a Guven Gedikoglu-Kerkman-Amdur block. Kratzenstein then score two straight points with an Ethan Daivs assisted block and a kill. However, despite late Kerkman and Gedikoglu kills, the Eagles prevailed, 25-22.

Eagle errors and kills from Nelson fueled the offense early, and a Dugan kill sparked a run that gave the V-Hawks a 15-12 lead. Kratzenstein and Gedikoglu kept the V-Hawks in the lead, combing for a pair of blocks and kills each leading to a 25-21 win.

Kratzenstein kept the momentum going into the fourth with a pair of kills helping Viterbo jump out to a 10-4 lead. Gedikoglu then had three kills as part of a 6-2 run, going up 18-11, and Kerkman added one to help bring the lead to 21-12. Eagle errors doomed them late, and Davis ended the set, 25-17.

Nelson and Kratzenstein put Viterbo ahead in the fifth, and after trading points with the Eagles behind Gedikoglu and Kerkman kills, the game was tied at 9-9. Judson then took over late, and despite a Juan Banda kill and Kratzenstein-Nelson block, the V-Hawks lost, 15-12.

Kratzenstein led the way with 16 kills on .467 hitting and five blocks, and Gedikoglu added 11 on .308 hitting. Amdur dished 40 assists, and Banda recorded 16 digs. Grant Shipley had 18 kills for the Eagles.

The V-Hawks return to action on Friday, March 1 as they host Roosevelt University (Ill.) and Maranatha Baptist University (Wis.).