V-Hawks Clinch Share of NSAA Conference Title

MADISON, S.D. - The Viterbo University Women's Volleyball team, ranked #7 in the most recent NAIA Top 25 Coaches Poll, took on the Dakota State University Trojans at the DSU Fieldhouse on Friday. The V-Hawks defeated the Trojans 3-2 (20-25, 25-16, 25-14, 20-25, 15-10) and clinched a share of the North Star Athletic Association (NSAA) conference title. The V-Hawks improve to 26-6 overall and 13-0 in conference play while the Trojans fall to 16-16 overall and 6-7 in league play.

The Trojans took the lead in set one 8-12 with two kills by Madalyn Groft forcing a Viterbo timeout. Dakota State maintained their lead untill three consecutive attack errors by the Trojans helped the V-Hawks tie the score 14-14. The teams traded points with kills by Viterbo's Jada Mitchell, Mariah Calkins, and Grace Rohde tieing the game again at 18-18. Dakota State took advantage Viterbo's errors taking the lead and allowing the V-Hawks to score only two more points concluding set one 20-25.

Viterbo came out strong in set two taking the lead 10-7 with multiple kills by the V-Hawks. A service ace by Kenidi McCabe helped the V-Hawks maintain their lead against the Trojans 14-8. Kenzie Winker and Mitchell each added two kills stretching the V-Hawks lead 19-12. The Trojans started closing the gap, but the V-Hawks ended set two 25-16 with kills by Winker and Marissa Kleman.

The V-Hawks put up five points in a row to start off set three ahead of the Trojans 11-5. The V-Hawks maintained their lead with a service ace by Taylor Larson and a block assisted by Rohde and Calkins bringing the score to 17-7. The teams traded points with kills by Winker, Mitchell, and Rohde finishing set three 25-14.

Viterbo and Dakota State tied early on in set four 7-7 before the Trojans took the lead with kills by Groft and Sydney Schell 7-13. Two kills each by Rodhe and Mitchell helped the V-Hawks catch up 14-16. The Trojans stretched their lead 17-23 forcing a Viterb timeout. Back on the court Lauryn Sobasky added a service ace bringing the score to 20-23. Dakota State scored the next two points finishing set four 20-25.

Viterbo got a head start in the fifth and final set 5-1 with kills by Winker, Kleman, and Rohde. Two more kills by the V-Hawks forced a Trojan timeout at 7-4. Dakota State fought hard and a kill by Groft helped the Trojans close the gap 10-9. The V-Hawks came back on the court from a timeout and allowed only one more point by the Trojans before ending set five 15-10 with two kills by Rohde. 

V-Hawks Lauryn Sobasky ended the night with 33 assists and 19 digs. Teammate Cailie Kowal added 20 assists. Libero Adrianna Reinhart contributed 32 digs. Kenzie Winker led the team with 21 kills followed by Grace Rohde with 18. Jada Mitchell recorded 4 block assists.

Trojan's Sydney Schell led the team with 16 kills. Maddi Langerock added 23 assists followed by Madalyn Groft with 22. Peyton Groft contributed 25 digs and Hannah Viet recorded 4 block assists.

The V-Hawks will travel to Bellevue, Neb. to take on #14 Bellevue University on Saturday, November 5 at 1:00PM CST in hopes to become the 2022 NSAA Women's Volleyball Conference Champions.