V-Hawks Sweep Dickinson State in Conference Home Opener
| Final | 1 | 2 | 3 | T | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
Dickinson State (ND) (2-13,0-1) | 16 | 16 | 23 | 0 |
|
Viterbo (11-5,1-0) | 25 | 25 | 25 | 3 |
LA CROSSE, Wis. – The Viterbo University Women's Volleyball team, ranked 9th in the most recent NAIA Top 25 Coaches' Poll, defeated Dickinson State University (N.D.) in a 3-0 sweep (25-16, 25-16, 25-23) in their home North Star Athletic Association (NSAA) conference opener on Friday night. The V-Hawks improve to 12-5 (2-0 NSAA) while the Blue Hawks drop to 2-13 (0-2 NSAA).
In the opening set, Dickinson would get up 6-3 off Viterbo errors and Katie Collum kills. Grace Rohde put down three consecutive kills on Lauryn Sobasky assists to give Viterbo their first lead of the game, 12-11. Then, Marissa Kleman's kill would spark a 9-0 run for the V-Hawks that featured two block assists and a solo block by Jada Mitchell. Martina McGrath recorded a kill and block assist with Mitchell to end the set 25-16.
Kills from Kenzie Winker, Mitchell, and Kleman would put Viterbo up 11-7 in the second set. DSU errors would put up VU up 17-11, and although the Blue Hawks would manage to close the lead to just three, and 8-2 run highlighted by two Mia Quist kills would end the set in Viterbo's favor, 25-16.
Rohde and Mariah Calkins would combine for multiple blocks to put the V-Hawks up 6-1 early in the final set. DSU would be able close the lead to just two, but Rohde's kill put VU back up 15-10. Winkers kills extended the lead to 21-15, but a late rally by Dickinson State brought the game to 23-24. Winker ended the set and match with an unassisted kill.
Winker led all players with 11 kills, and Kleman added 10 kills while hitting .261. Sobasky had 24 assists, which tied a game-high, and Cailie Kowal also had double digits with 11. Adrianna Reinhart's 22 digs was a game-high, and Mitchell's six total blocks (five assisted, one solo) was a game and career high.
Collum led the Blue Hawks with eight kills, Bailey Pearcy teid the game high 24 assists and led the team with 14 digs, while Mary Schnell had four blocks.
The V-Hawks return to the court on Saturday, September 24 as they host Valley City State (N.D.) at 1 P.M.