Winker Leads Sweep of #11 Columbia
| Final | 1 | 2 | 3 | T | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
#11 Columbia (MO) (11-2,0-0) | 14 | 22 | 21 | 0 |
|
Viterbo (12-2,0-0) | 25 | 25 | 25 | 3 |
LA CROSSE, Wis. – The Viterbo University Women's Volleyball team, ranked #4 in the most recent NAIA Top 25 Coaches Poll, defeated #11 Columbia College in a 3-0 sweep (25-14, 25-22, 25-21) to finish the 2023 Days Inn and Suites V-Hawk Invitational undefeated. The V-Hawks improve to 13-2 while the Cougars fall to 10-2.
Jada Mitchell recorded the first two kills of the match for the V-Hawks, and Kenzie Winker would put Viterbo up 8-6 early. After Columbia tied the set at 11-11, Mitchell would spark a 10-1 run that was highlighted by four kills and a solo block by Winker. Martina McGrath and Grace Rohde recorded the late kills to give Viterbo the 25-14 win.
Winker and Mitchel combined for a block to start eh second set, and McGrath and Marissa Kleman followed soon after. Columbia managed to go ahead 8-10 on a Jaene Johnson kill, but Rohde responded with a kill and a service ace. McGrath tied the set at 14-14, and errors by the Cougars helped Viterbo go up 17-15. The Cougars put down two block to take the lead back, but Winker posted a pair of clutch kills to go with a Mitchell-Sadie Treptow block for the win.
After Maddie Connor started the third with a service ace, Winker would take over, scoring five of the V-Hawks first nine points. Mitchell and Rohde paced the offense as the V-Hawks maintained a small advantage until McGrath's kill prompted a timeout with VU leading 18-12. While the Cougars managed a 4-0 run, the rally would come too late, and a Mitchell-Rohde block and final Winker kill completed the V-Hawk sweep, 25-21.
Winker led all players with 21 kills, tying the fifth most in kills in a three-set match in school history, on ridiculous .543 hitting percentage. Rohde had a 10-kill, 12-dig double-double, and Connor recorded 26 assists. Cailie Kowal also assisted 17 points for the V-Hawks. Allana Capella led the Cougars with 13 kills, and Luisa Ferreira had a game-high 34 assists.
The V-Hawks return to action on Wednesday, September 13 as they host Waldorf University (Iowa) in the NSAA Conference Home Opener.