V-Hawks Sweep Warriors at Home

LA CROSSE, Wis. - The Viterbo University Volleyball team, ranked eighth in the most recent NAIA Top 25 Coaches' Poll, took on Waldorf University at the R.W. Beggs Sr. Gymnasium on Wednesday evening. The V-Hawks swept the Warriors 3-0 (25-18, 25-12, 25-20). The V-Hawks improve to 18-6 while the Warriors fall to 9-8.

At the beginning of the first set the teams traded leads continuously. After sixteen volleys, the score was tied 8-8, four of which were scored off of kills by Grace Rhode. The Warriors scored the next three points, giving them an 11-8 lead. After a Viterbo timeout, the V-Hawks landed four points, including two consecutive service aces by Kenidi McCabe. Viterbo was able to maintain their lead and finish the set 25-18. 

For the first ten points of the second set, the teams again traded points back-and-forth. A kill by Kenzie Winker would set the V-Hawks off on a thirteen-point streak, giving them a 15-5 lead. Three V-Hawk errors in a row would give the Warriors three points, which Viterbo was able to answer by scoring three for themselves. Again, Waldorf responded by putting up three more points. The V-Hawks finished the set strong, scoring seven points and only allowing one. The set ended with a score of 25-12, putting the V-Hawks up by two. 

The V-Hawks started off the third set strong, by scoring the first two points off a Marissa Kleman kill and a Waldorf error. The Warriors responded and brought the game to a 2-2 tie. The teams remained neck and neck for the next several points, with Waldorf taking an 11-10 lead off of a kill by Zoee Pond. Despite kills by Winker and Klemen, the V-Hawks found themselves down 13-16. Viterbo regained composure, scoring the next five points. The V-Hawks finished out the set off of a Jada Mitchell kill, making the score 25-20. 

Viterbo recorded 7 service aces throughout the game distributed among 6 different players. Lauryn Sobasky led in assists, producing 18. Rhode led in kills, landing 13.

Waldorf's Kenzie Kidd led with 8 kills and 10 digs. Kaitlyn Bakke contributed 21 of the Warriors' 23 assists. 

The V-Hawks will compete this weekend in the Viterbo University Invitational, beginning with a match against University of St. Francis (ILL.) on Friday, October 14th at 2:00PM CST.