Three V-Hawks Reach Double-Digit Kills in Win

FREMONT, Neb. – The Viterbo University Women's Volleyball team, ranked #7 in the NAIA Preseason Top 25 Coaches Poll, defeated Grand View University (Iowa) in their first match of the Midland University (Neb.) Showcase on Thursday evening, 3-1 (25-14, 25-16, 21-25, 25-11). The V-Hawks improve to 5-0 on the season, while the Vikings start the year 0-1.

Jada Mitchell and Kenzie Winker would record the first two kills for the V-Hawks, then combine for a block before Grace Rohde recorded a service ace, giving the V-Hawks the early 4-1 lead. The Vikings would nearly tie the game at, but Mia Quist would earn an ace of her own, and three straight kills by Rodde prompted a Grand View timeout, with VU leading 16-8. Winker fueled the offense late, and Mitchell ended the set 25-14.

She picked up immediately in the second set, with a kill on the opening volley, followed by a Maddie Connor ace. Kenidi McCabe added an ace of her own, but a 4-0 run by GVU with an ace by Ellie Dougherty tied the set 8-8. Rodhe's kills helped give the V-Hawks some cushion, and Sadie Treptow came in for a kill and Martina McGrath-assisted block. The Vikings recorded three straight errors, McGrath had two more blocks, one solo and one assisted by Elodie Danet, and Rohde ended the set, 25-16.

It would be Grand View who took the early lead in the third, with back-to-back solo blocks by Kylie Hoben. Connor spread around the offense, setting up Rohde, Winker, and McGrath to take the lead, and another solo block from McGrath helped put the V-Hawks up 12-7. Heleine Filipe fueled a 6-0 run for the Vikings as they took the lead again, 15-18, and while the V-Hawks brought it back within two, 21-23, Grand View succeeded in handing Viterbo their first set loss of the year, 21-25.

Winker's kills and McCabe's aces helped Viterbo jump out to a 6-3 lead in the fourth. After McGrath and Winker combined for a block, Connor recorded and ace that started a 9-0 V-Hawk run that included three kills and a Marissa Kleman-assisted block for Mitchell. The V-Hawks led by double digits late, and Kleman helped end the match with a pair of kills and another block with Mitchell. Winker would put down the final kill for the 25-11 win.

Winker led all players with 20 kills, hitting .283, and Rodhe (16, .263) and Mitchell (12, .346) both reached double digits as well. Rodhe also reached double digits digs at 15, but McCabe would have the game-high of 21. Connor set her new career high of 42 assists, and McGrath had five total blocks.

Sydney Beasley had 10 kills for Grand View, Jenna Bentz had 26 assists, Chevy Wagner-Chun had 17 digs, and Hoben had eight blocks.

Viterbo returns to action on Friday, August 25 with matchups against #2 Corban (Ore.) at 10 am, and #8 Missouri Baptist at 5 pm.