V-Hawks Advance to National Semifinal

SIOUX CITY, Iowa – The Viterbo University Women's Volleyball team, the #5 overall seed in the NAIA Women's Volleyball National Tournament, defeated #12 Midland (Neb.) in the National quarterfinals, 3-1 (25-19, 19-25, 25-21, 25-21). The V-Hawks improve to 34-4, while the Warriors'' season ends at 18-12.

After Marissa Kleman's kill scored the first point of the match for Viterbo, Grace Rohde scored consecutive points from a kill and an ace as the V-Hawks built a 7-3 early lead. Kleman and Martina McGrath blocked an attempt following a Midland timeout, followed by two more blocks from Jada Mitchell, one solo and one assisted by Kenzie Winker. After another Kleman-McGrath block, the Warriors went on a 4-1 to close the V-Hawk lead to just 18-16, but McGrath put down a kill to end the run, and Mia Quist aced a serve. Winker's kill brought the lead to 23-19, and Kelman and McGrath's block ended the set, 25-19.

Three straight kills and a Kleman-assisted block by Mitchell helped Viterbo start the second up, 5-2, but despite a pair of Rohde kills, Midland put together a 4-1 run to help tie the match, 12-12, and then scored five unanswered en route to a 20-15 lead. Sadie Treptow got the V-Hawks back on the board with a kill, and Rohde put down back-to-back kills, but the Warriors momentum was too much, and MU would win, 25-19.

Mitchel started the third with two more blocks, assisted by Kleman and Winker, but even after a Cailie Kowal ace, the V-Hawks still trailed 8-7. Midland extended that lead to 15-12 before two kills from Winker, and another by Mitchell tied the set at 17-17. Rohde's kill and MU errors gave the V-Hawks a 22-19 advantage, and McGrath brought home the VU win with a kill and Winker-assisted blocks.

After Midland jumped out to a 5-0 lead to start the fourth, Viterbo responded in a big way, with a 7-1 run that saw three Winker kills, a McGrath-Kleman block, and a McCabe service ace. It was then Midlands turn again for a big run, going up 13-9. Rohde ended the run, then put down three more kills as VU took back the lead, 16-15. Winker had a pair of late kills, McCabe added an ace, and after two Warrior errors, Winker ended the match, 25-21.

Winker led all players with 18 kills, and recorded a double-double with 14 dig, and Rohde nearly matched her with 15 kills and 12 digs. Mitchell also added 13 and six blocks. Maddie Connor was the third V-Hawk with a double-double, posting 22 assists and 13 digs, and Kowal matched with 22 assists. McCabe recorded 24 digs, and Kleman had six blocks. Jacki Apel led the Warriors with 11 kills, and Delanie Vallinch had 27 digs.

The V-Hawks return to action of Monday, December 4 in the National Semifinal against #1 Northwestern College (Iowa) at 5 PM.