Kleman Sets Career-High in Sweep over St. Francis

LA CROSSE, Wis. – The Viterbo University Women's Volleyball team, ranked #5 in the most recent NAIA Top 25 Coaches Poll, ended the 2023 Days Inn Viterbo Fall Classic with a 3-0 sweep (25-20, 25-9, 25-16) over St. Francis University (Ind.) on Saturday afternoon. The V-Hawks improve to 23-3 (7-0 NSAA), while the cougars fall to 8-17, (2-10 Crossroads).

St. Francis took the first lead of the day, going up 7-3 on a Paige Fortkamp ace early in the opening set. Sadie Treptow's kill and Jada Mitchell's solo block helped the V-Hawks stay close, and Marissa Kelman's kill helped spark an 11-2 run that was highlighted by two Cailie Kowal aces and three Kenzie Winker kills. The Cougars tried to capitalize late on V-
Hawk errors, but Grace Rohde contributed a late kill, and an attack error by SFU ended the first in VU's favor, 25-20.

The V-Hawks started the second set on fire, building an 8-0 lead behind a Maddie Connor ace and Mitchell-Kleman block. Winker's solo block and Mitchell's kills extended that lead to 12-1, and the V-Hawks kept the cruising as the with kills from Mitchell, Treptow, and Casey Frankland. Kleman would put down the final point, 25-9.

Viterbo started the third set with two straight blocks from Kleman and Mitchell, and Kleman added a third with Martina McGrath to go up 8-5. After a solo block by SFU's Lauren Stout brought the score to 11-10, the V-Hawks rattled off seven straight, including a Connor ace and two more blocks from Kleman and Mitchell. The Cougars would be unable to rally, and Treptow's tow late kills lifted the V-Hawks over St. Francis, 25-16.

Mitchell led all players with 10 kills, hitting .556, while Rohde added eight and Winker had seven. Kowal dished a match-high 17 assists, and Connor was just behind her with 16. McCabe matched a game-high 12 digs and Kleman posted a career-high seven blocks, matched by Mitchell.

The V-Hawks return to action on Friday, October 20 as they host #18 Bellevue University (Neb.).