V-Hawks Snap Three-Game Skid at Home

LA CROSSE, Wis. – The Viterbo University Men's Volleyball team snapped a three game skid on Thursday night with a 3-1 (21-25, 25-19, 25-22, 25-21) win over UW-Stevens Point. The V-Hawks improve to 11-14 (2-5 CCAC) on the year, while the Pointers fall to 10-8.

Stevens Point would quickly take control of the first set, going up 8-2. A kill and a block from Alex Kratzenstein helped the V-Hawks being to chip away at the lead, followed by kills form Caleb Koza and SJ Nelson. Ethan Davis' kill started a late run, but it came too late, and the Pointers took the first, 25-21.

After UWSP went ahead early in the second, Guven Gedikoglu contributed a pair of kills in a 5-0 run to take the 8-7 lead. The teams then traded points, with Dane Kerkman adding a pair of blocks, one assisted by Juan Banda, and the other by Koza. After Stevens Point tied the match, Koza sparked a 6-0 run, and the V-Hawks did not look back, with Davis' kill ending the set, 25-19.

The squads traded runs early in the third, with the V-Hawks offense being led by Gedikoglu and a Max Dugan ace. After the Pointer took the lead, Davis recorded a kill and an ace to give the advantage back to VU. Late errors doomed UWSP, and Kratzenstein would end the set with a kill, 25-22.

Justin Kratzenstein recorded a service ace to go with two A. Kratzenstein kills for the early V-Hawk lead in the fourth. Pointer errors and a Gedikoglu ace brought the score to 9-3, but UWSP was able to erase the lead. Kerkman had a late solo block to help Viterbo secure the win, as A. Kratzenstein and Koza's block ended the match, 25-21.

Davis led the V-Hawks with 11 kills, while Gedokoglu added nine on .353 hitting. Banda dished 34 assists to go with 16 digs, which matched 16 from Dugan. Zach Meyers had 13 kills for Stevens Point.

The V-Hawks return to action on Friday, Aril 5 at Judson University (Ill.).