Viterbo Overcomes Slow Start to Top Valley City at Home

LA CROSSE, Wis. - The Viterbo University Women's Volleyball team, ranked #9 in the most recent NAIA Top 25 Coaches' Poll, conquered Valley City State University (N.D.) 3-1 (22-25, 25-15, 25-20, 25-16) on Saturday. The V-Hawks advance to 15-5 overall and 3-0 in conference play while the Vikings drop to 7-8 overall and 2-1 in conference.

In the first set, the V-Hawks started off strong with a score of 8-5 with errors by Valley City State and kills by Kenzie Winker, Marissa Kleman, and Martina McGrath. After a timeout by the Vikings, Viterbo maintained their lead 18-13 with three service errors by Valley City State and kills by Grace Rohde, Jada Mitchell, McGrath, and Winker. The Vikings answered by putting up four points consecutively to force a timeout by Viterbo. A service error by the V-Hawks tied up the set 19-19. The Vikings took their first lead in the game 20-21 with a kill by Emma Lucas. Valley City State kept their lead and ended the set with a kill by Bailey Nelson 22-25.

Starting set two, four kills by Winker would help put the V-Hawks up 7-3. Viterbo errors and a kill by Lucas helped the Vikings come back to tie the set 8-8. The V-Hawks quicky got their lead back scoring seven points in a row with a service ace by Maddie Connor and kills by Mitchell, Rohde, and Mariah Calkins bringing the score to 15-9. After a Viking timeout, the V-Hawks maintained their lead with a solo block by Calkins and a service ace by Kenidi McCabe 21-12. Viterbo ended the set 25-15 with a kill by McGrath and an error by the Vikings.

Viterbo started off strong in set three putting up the first five points of the game on the board with blocks by Calkins and Marissa Kleman. The Vikings couldn't keep up and Viterbo stretched their lead 15-6 with a service ace by Connor and kills by Winker, Mitchell, and Rohde. After a timeout by Valley City State, the Vikings shortened the Viterbo's lead 22-19 with kills by Bailey Nelson, Morgan Freije, and Danielle Hagler. A kill by Rohde was able to finish set three for the V-Hawks 25-20. 

The V-Hawks and the Vikings traded points early on in set four with a score of 6-4. The V-Hawks stretched their lead 11-5 scoring four consecutive points with kills by Mitchell and Rohde. Kills by Calkins would help Viterbo stay up 18-11. The two teams traded points towards the end of the set bringing the score up 22-16. The V-Hawks ended the final set 25-16 with two service aces by McCabe and a kill by Calkins.

Junior Kenzie Winker led the team with 17 kills for the day. Calkins added 6 total blocks (two solo, five assisted). Adrianna Reinhart recorded 20 digs for the V-Hawks. Kenidi McCabe added 4 service aces and Lauryn Sobasky ended the day with 26 assists.

Bailey Nelson led the Vikings with 13 kills while Morgan Nelson led the team with 8 block assists. Sadie Hansen recorded 41 assists for the day. JayCee Richter led the team with 12 total digs.

The Viterbo Women's Volleyball team will travel to Iowa to take on #8 Northwestern College on Tuesday, September 27 at 6:30PM CST.