V-Hawks Win Third Straight NSAA Crown

LA CROSSE, Wis. – The Viterbo University Women's Volleyball team, ranked #5 in the most recent NAIA Top-25 Coaches Poll, swept Dickinson State University (ND) 3-0 (25-10, 2-14, 25-20) on Friday night. The V-Hawks improve to 27-4 (11-0 NSAA) on the year, while the Blue Hawks fall to 1-22 (1-10 NSAA).

Viterbo has officially clinched the 2023 North Star Athletic Association regular season title, their third straight and fourth in five years.

Two straight service aces by Grace Rohde helped the V-Hawks take an early 7-2 lead in the first. Martina McGrath's back-to-back kills extended the lead to 12-6, and two straight by Jada Mitchell fueled a 7-0 run to go up 19-7Mitchell put down a solo block, followed by a DSU error for the 25-10 win.

Two Maddie Connor aces led to a 6-0start for the V-Hawks in the second, and three straight Rohde kills made it 12-4. Marissa Kleman and Rohde led another 6-2 run to keep Viterbo comfortably in the lead, Kenzie Winker added a kill and Mia Quist ended the second, 25-14, with two straight aces.

The Blue Hawks built a small lead to start the third set, but DSU errors helped Viterbo take back advantage, 9-8. Rohde's kill sparked a 10-2 run, highlighted by a Kenidi McCabe ace and Winker kill, that gave the momentum back to Viterbo. Dickinson tried to rally late brining the match within four, but Rohde ended the rally with a kill, 25-20.

Mitchell led all players with 14 kills on .609 hitting, and Rohde added 13 more. Connor dished 23 assists, Cailie Kowal added 21, and Kenzie Winker recorded a match-high 13 digs. Bailey Pearcy led the Blue Hawks with 20 assists.

The V-Hawks finish their regular season on Saturday, November 4 against (RV) Valley City State (ND).