V-Hawks Sweep Bears and Trolls

LA CROSSE, Wis. – The Viterbo University Women's Volleyball team, ranked #5 in the most recent NAIA Top 25 Coaches Poll, collected a pair of sweeps on the first da of the 2023 Days Inn and Suites Onalaska Viterbo Fall Classic on Friday afternoon. In the early game, Viterbo took down Trinity Christian College (Ill.) 3-0 (25-9, 25-15, 25-19) and in the nightcap, Viterbo swept (RV) Rocky Mountain College (Mont.) 3-0 (25-17, 25-19, 25-23). The V-Hawks improve to 22-3 (7-0 NSAA), while the Trolls fall to 7-15, and the Bears sit at 15-9.

The V-Hawks sprinted out to a huge lead to start the first set of the first match, as Grace Rohde recorded a kill and a trio of aces, and Kenzie Winker had two kills en route to an 11-1 lead. While an error would end the run, the V-Hawks stayed in control, with kills from Martina McGrath, Rodhe, and two aces from Maddie Connor, leading to Jada Mitchell's set winning kill, 25-9.

The second started closer, as a Taryn Hinken kill brought the score to 7-5, but Sadie Treptow started a 6-1 V-Hawk run, that saw another ace, this time from Mia Quist. Errors from the Trolls kept VU in the drivers seat, and the lead extended to 23-11 following a Rohde-McGrath blocks, and a Mitchell-Casey Frankland block. Kleman would end the second 25-15 with an unassisted kill.

Trinity Christian took the early advantage in the third, going up 5-2, but two kills from Kenidi McCabe fueled a V-Hawk run to take the lead. TCC would roll a 5-0 run of their own to go back up 14-13. The V-Hawks would answer yet again, and this time not relinquish their lead, as Winker and McGrath combined for a block to go up 20-16, and Mitchell contributed to the final two scores, from a kill and a Treptow-assisted block.

Rohde led all players with 10 kills, while McGrath had nine on .818 hitting, and Mitchell had seven while hitting .538. Connor dished 19 assists and Cailie Kowal had 14 of her own. Winker led the V-Hawks with 10 digs.

Against the Battlin' Bears, Connor started the match with an ace, and Koawl added two as the V-Hawks built a 9-4 lead. An RMC block form Rhiannon Nez and Sealey Blythe closed the lead to 12-10, but back-to-back kills from Kleman helped VU pull away again, and Winker's kill brought the score to 20-13. Rohde added a late kill, and Mitchell had two straight to end the set, 25-17.

The second set started closer, with eight ties by the time the score reached 9-9. Mitchell then started a 6-1 run, and Rohde added two aces for the 15-10 lead. Errors helped Rocky Mountain fight back to just a one point deficit, 17-16. The V-Hawks spread out the offense late as Rohde, McGrath, Treptow, and Mitchell all contributed to the 8-3 run for the lead.

Nez had three straight kills to start the third set, but McGrath paced VU's offense as they came back for the 9-7 advantage. While RMC would keep the match within just a few points, but would never be able to take the lead from Viterbo. Mitchell had a solo block to go up 23-20, and after Rocky Mountain ran three straight, Winker put down a kill, and McCabe earned an ace for the win.

Winker matched a game-high 10 kills, Mitchell and Rohde each had nine, and Treptow had seven with just a single miss. Kowal posted a match-high 23 assists, Connor had 18, and Rohde recorded 15 digs, with McCave just behind her at 14. Sealey matched the game-high 23 assists, and Brooke Ark had 16 digs.

The V-Hawks return to action on Saturday, October 15, as they take on Saint Francis University (Ind.) in their final match of the 2023 Days Inn and Suites Onalaska Viterbo Fall Classic.