V-Hawks Claim Two Wins on Day One of Fall Classic

LA CROSSE, Wis. – The Viterbo University Women's Volleyball team, ranked #8 in the most recent NAIA Top 25 Coaches Poll, claimed two 3-0 wins to start off the Days Inn and Suites Onalaska Viterbo Volleyball Fall Classic. In the early game, Viterbo defeated St. Francis (Ill.) in straight sets 25-8, 25-22, 25-20, and the night game ended in a V-Hawk victory over #23 Columbia (Mo.) 25-23, 25-19, 25-23. Viterbo finishes the day 20-6, the Saints are now 17-12, and the Cougars are 16-9.

The V-Hawks dominated the first set, with Jada Mitchell's kill putting them up 10-4 early. After the Saints' Gabriela Oliveira put down a kill, Viterbo went on a 10-1 run with kills from Mariah Calkins, Grace Rohde, Marissa Kleman, and Kenzie Winker. St. Francis had two kills to bring the score to 20-8, but five straight points, including two aces from Kenidi McCabe, ended the set 25-8 in Viterbo's favor.

The second set started much closer, with seven ties by the time the score reached 8-8. Two consecutive kills from Winker helped put Viterbo up 14-9, but St. Francis responded with an 8-3 to tie the game at 17-17. After alternating points, Mitchell and Winker's kills, along with a Cailie Kowal ace, gave Viterbo a 24-21 advantage, and Winker ended the set 25-22.

The Saints went up 4-1 early in the third set, but three Adrianna Reinhart aces helped the V-Hawks go on a 6-0 run. St. Francis managed to reclaim the lead 17-15, but Jada Mitchell's kill helped spark another Viterbo run, highlighted by a Maddie Connor ace, to go up 21-17. Multiple Saint errors set up a V-Hawk set-point finished by a Rohde kill.

Winker led all player with 12 kills, and Rohde added 11 of her own. Sobasky had a game high 17 assists, Reinhart had 11 digs, and Calkins added two blocks.

Desiree Anderson led the Saints with nine kills, Abby Lab had 16 assists, Leah Talley recorded seven digs, and Stephanie Woods posted a game-high 4 blocks.

In the late game, Winker's and Mitchell's kills, followed by Kowal's ace put Viterbo up 6-4, but the Cougars would manage to take a 12-9 on a Sude Gundogan block. Aces from Sobasky and Connor helped to even the score at 19-19. Calkins, Mitchell, Winker, and Rohde each contributed another kill to end the first set in a 25-23 Viterbo win.

Martina McGrath and Kleman each posted kills to helpto put Viterbo up 7-2 early in the second set. Rohde's kill made that lead 10-5 before Columbia went on a quick 5-2 run. Winker, Kleman and Rohde extended the lead to 22-15, until the Cougars took four straight volleys. Rohde ended the rally with a kill and Winker ended the set 25-19.

Sobasky started the third set with two consecutive aces, and Kleman's kills helped bring the score to 7-3. Columbia was able to event the game 12-12, but three Winker kills helped fueled a 6-1 to put Viterbo up 18-13. The Cougars rallied, and were able to take the lead 23-22, but Rohde's kill tied the game, and a Cougar kill followed by a Calkins-Kleman block ended the set and match.

Winker led all players with 19 kills while hitting .395, and Rohde recorded 14. Sobasky (24) and Kowal (21) each eclipsed the 20-assist mark and Reinhart had 24 digs.

Gundogan and Danielle Prior each had seven kills, Luisa Ferreira had a game-high 29 assists, along with 10 digs to match Ellie Rockers. Prior also had five blocks.

The V-Hawks finish the Fall Classic on Saturday, October 15 with a match against (RV) St. Francis (Ind.).