V-Hawks Survive in Five-Set Thriller

MAYVILLE, ND – The Viterbo University Women's Volleyball team, ranked #5 in the most recent NAIA Top-25 Coaches Poll, secured a win in a five-set thriller at Mayville State University (ND), 3-2 (25-20, 24-26, 20-25, 25-21, 17-15). The V-Hawks improve to 26-4 (10-0 NSAA), while the Comets fall to 14-8 (5-4 CCAC).

Maddie Connor started the game with a service ace for the V-Hawks, but Mayville produced an early 8-1 run to go up 10-6. Sadie Treptow's kill ended the run, and Winker added three kills to a 9-2 run for Viterbo to take back the lead 18-15. Cailie Kowal recorded an ace, while Martina McGrath had a solo block and kill down the stretch to help earn the 25-20 win.

Winker paced the offense early in the second, with her third kill giving VU the 9-5 lead. The Comets answered again, however, building a 14-10 lead with an run that included two blocks and an ace. Grace Rohde earned a block assist with Jada Mitchell and an ace to edge closer, while Mitchell had a solo block and Treptow-assisted block to tie the match at 21-21. From there, Mayville was able to record a pair of consecutive kills to win with a 26-24 advantage.

MSU jumped out to a large lead immediately in the third, 8-2. A Mitchell-Rohde block ended the run, and despite a Marissa Kleman-McGrath block and Winker ace, the Comets would hold onto a few point lead throughout the set, and after two late Rohde kills, Mayville won 25-20.

McGrath posted two blocks to start the fourth, one with Winker, another with Grace Peyron, and Maddie Connor's ace brought the score to 10-4. The V-Hawks held a comfortable lead for most of the match, with Mitchell leading the offense, and McGrath and Peyron posting another block assist. After back-to-back Winker kills, the Comets went on a 7-1 run, but the rally came too late, and the V-Hawks won 25-21.

Kleman started the deciding set with a solo block, and after consecutive kills by Treptow and two from Mitchell, Viterbo led 8-4. Mayville scored five straight for the Comets to take the 11-10 lead, but Rohde's kills gave the advantage back to Viterbo. MSU tied the match 15-15, but Rohde put Viterbo ahead, and Kleman and Mitchell's block assist gave Viterbo the 17-15 victory.

Winkler led all players with 19 kills and added 11 digs for a double-double, while Rohde had one of her own with 16 kills and 15 digs and Mitchell contributed 11 kills on .350 hitting. Connor dished 32 assists, while Kowal added 28 and McCabe had a match-high 38 digs. Mitchell posted seven digs and McGrath had six. Madison McKinnon and Elora Passa each had 15 kills for the Comets, while Passa also had 33 assists.

With the win, the V-Hawk clinched the outright NSAA regular season conference championship. This is the V-Haws' eighth conference title in the last 10 years. 

The V-Hawks return to action on Friday, November 3 against Dickinson State (ND).