V-Hawks Split Matches at Home

LA CROSSE, Wis. – The Viterbo University Men's Volleyball team split a pair of home matches on Saturday, falling to Olivet Nazarene University (Ill.), 3-1 (22-25, 20-25, 25-22, 23-25), then defeating  Dordt University (Iowa), 3-1 (20-25, 25-21, 25-19, 25-23). The V-Hawks now sit at 10-11 (3-3 CCAC).

In the opening set against Olivet, three early kills from Guven Gedikoglu brought the score to 7-7, then Dane Kerkman out the V-Hawks ahead, 11-9. SJ Nelson's kills and Kerkman's ace extended the lead to 16-12, followed by a Gedikoglu-Alex Kratzenstein block. However, the Tigers rallied, scored the final seven points of the set, and won, 25-22.

Kratzenstein started the scoring for Viterbo in the second, and started a run that brought the run to 9-9. Logan Amdur then started another run that included a Gedikoglu ace to even it again at 13-13. ONU then took over, going up 19-14 before an Ethan Davis kill, and held on for the 25-20 win.

Kratzenstein had consecutive kills early in the third, and despite falling behind 15-8, the V-Hawks battled back. Max Dugan's kill, followed by a Daxton Marschall ace started a run highlighted by three straight Gedikoglu kills to tie the match at 21-21. Errors from the Tigers doomed them, and VU won, 25-22.

Viterbo started the fourth with blocks from Gedikoglu, Nelson, and Kerkman, and a pair of Kratzenstein kills brought the score to 9-11. Two Nelson kills kept it close, 15-17, but the V-Hawks couldn't take control, and the Tigers stayed ahead, winning 25-23.

Gedikioglu led Viterbo with 16 kills, while Kratzenstein added 12 with four blocks. Amdur dished 38 assists, and Juan Banda recorded 23 digs. Brody McAfee led ONU with 20 kills and Tomas Gonzalez had 51 assists.

Dordt took an early lead to start the opening set, 8-4, though Ethan Davis recorded back-to-back kills to pace Viterbo's offense. Gedikoglu and Kratzenstein recorded a block, and Caleb Koza added one solo. Banda added a late kill, but Dordt won, 25-20.

Gedikoglu and Davis fueled the offense early in the second, while a Nelson kill put Viterbo ahead, 15-7. The teams traded points, Viterbo led by Davis and Kerkman, and Viterbo secured the win with Gedikoglu kills, and a Kerkman-Amdur block.

Errors from DU to start the third gave Viterbo the advantage, and the V-Hawks would take advantage, using consecutive blocks from Kerkman and consecutive kills form Kratzenstein to stay in control. Kerkman contributed a solo block and errors helped Viterbo win, 25-19.

Nelson had three early kills for Viterbo, then he and Kratzenstein fueled a 5-0 run for the 12-6 lead. Gedikoglu and Davis added kills, and after the set was tied at 19-19, Kratzenstein's two blocks and kill put the V-Hawks ahead, 24-20, then one more ended the match, 25-23.

Gedikoglu and Nelson each recorded 13 kills, Kratzenstein posted five blocks, Amdur dished 43 assists, and Banda had 18 digs. Nicodemus Elliott led Dordt with 15 kills.

The V-Hawks return to action on Friday, March 22 at Trinity Christian College (Ill.).