V-Hawks Sweep Point Park, Advance to Final Site

LA CROSSE, Wis. – The Viterbo University Women's Volleyball team, ranked #9 in the most recent NAIA Top 25 Coaches Poll, defeated Point Park University (Pa.) 3-0 (25-18, 25-18, 25-20) in the opening round of the NAIA National Tournament on Saturday, The Pioneers season ends with a record of 25-7, while the V-Hawks move on to the National Tournament Final Site with a 29-7 record.

Jada Mitchell's kill and Adrianna Reinhart's ace gave Viterbo an early 6-3 edge in the first set, and despite multiple kills from Kenzie Winker, the Pioneers would respond with a 5-1 run to even the score at 13-13. Back-to-back blocks from Martina McGrath helped fuel an 8-2 run to put Viterbo up 21-16, and Kenidi McCabe ended the set with an ace, 25-18.

Grace Rohde and Mariah Calkins connected for a block to start the second set and after five early ties, a Maddie Connor ace and a Calkins-McGrath block helped put the V-Hawks up 12-8. Stephanie Rivera-Pacheco's kill brought the game back within one, 13-12, but another run for Viterbo, highlighted by two Reinhart aces and two Mitchell kills, gave them a 20-13 lead. Taylor Larson recorded an ace and Mitchell's kill won the set for the V-Hawks, 25-18.

Rohde recorded early kills for Viterbo in the third set, but errors gave Point Park an 11-6 advantage. Winker contributed four kills during a 9-1 run to take an 18-15 lead, but Madison Sima put down a pair of kills to keep the Pioneers close. Connor recorded consecutive aces to reach match point, and Rohde's kill gave the V-Hawks the set and match victory.

Mitchell posted 12 kills on .550 hitting percentage, and Winker matched with 12 kills of her own. Lauryn Sobasky recorded a game-high 20 assists and Cailie Kowal reached double digits with 11. Sobasky also led the V-Hawks with 12 digs and McGrath had three blocks.

Rivera-Pacheco led the Pioneers with nine kills and 12 digs, Star Lakin had 12 assists, and Melissa Schroeder had a game-high four blocks.

The V-Hawks will travel to Sioux City, Iowa for the National Tournament final site, with pool play starting on Wednesday, November 30.