V-Hawks Fall to a Pair of Nationally Ranked Foes

CHICAGO, Ill. – The Viterbo University Men's Volleyball team dropped a pair of matches at #7 Saint Xavier University's (Ill.) tri-match on Saturday, losing to the Cougars, 0-3 (15-25, 14-25, 14-25), and to (RV) Cornerstone (Mich.), 1-3 (10-25, 25-21, 26-28, 15-25). The V-Hawks fall to 11-17 (2-7 CCAC) on the year.  

Against SXU, the V-Hawks would take an early lead behind a Dane Kerkman solo block and Daxton Marschall ace. However, the Cougars battled back with a 7-1 run to take a 14-11 lead before a Kerkman kill ended the run. Saint Xavier took over from there, winning the first set, 25-15.

Juan Banda's ace and Ethan Davis' kill helped the V-Hawks early in the second, but the Cougars still built a 10-8 lead. Errors by the Cougars supplied points for the V-Hawks, and Guven Gedikoglu earned late kill, but VU still fell, 25-14.

Despite SXU errors early in the third and an Alex Kratzenstein kill, the V-Hawks still fell behind, 12-7. Banda and Kerkman each contributed kills for the V-Hawks, but Saint Xavier continued t build their lead. After a late error, the Cougars secured the win, 25-14.

Kerkman led the V-Hawks with four kills on .205 hitting, Banda dished 10 assists, Max Dugan and recorded 10 digs. Jake McClain had 15 kills for SXU, and Cameron Daniels posted 33 assists.

Against Cornerstone, Caleb Koza recorded an early kill, and Davis added a service ace. However, despite a Kerkman kill and another from Koza, the first set was all Eagles, winning 25-10.

The teams traded point back and forth to start the second, with the V-Hawks being led by four Nelson kills. Banda and Kerkman teamed up for a block that capped a short VU run, putting them ahead, 16-13. Back-to-back Nelson kills and a Dugan ace kept the V-Hawks ahead, and an Eagle error ended the set, 25-21.

Avery Hackler and Justin Kratzenstein combined for a block to start the third, and after a Kerkman ace and Nelson kill, Hackler recorded another block, this time assisted by Koza. Cornerstone started to put together a run that was interrupted by a pair of Kerkman kills, and after back-to-back Kerkman blocks, assisted by Banda and J. Kratzenstein, Vitebo took a 25-24 lead. However, CU would have the final say, taking the set, 28-26.

The V-Hawks used a spread out attack early in the fourth, getting kills from J. Kratzenstein, Banda, and Logan Taylor. A Cornerstone error gave the V-Hawks a 10-6 lead, but the Eagles fought back to go up, 12-10. J. Kratzenstein had a final kill, but CU pulled away for the win, 25-15.

Nelson led the V-Hawks with 15 kills, while Banda had 23 assists, and Kerkman recorded four blocks. Two Eagles posted 13 kills, Patrick Voloch dish 46 assists, and Kyi Jagorin had a match-high 17 digs.

The V-Hawks return to action on Tuesday, April 9 for their regular season finale, hosting St. Ambrose University (Iowa).