V-Hawks Split at Labor Day Classic, Maddie Connor Surpassing 2,000 Assists

OMAHA, Nebraska -- The V-Hawk women split their first day at the College of Saint Mary Labor Day Classic. In their first match of the day against Saint Francis (Ind.), Viterbo won in sweeping fashion, posting scores of 25-10, 25-16, 25-10. The second game of the day against #4 Concordia (Neb.), the V-Hawks fell in straight sets, going extra points in the first set (29-27, 25-16, 25-23). 

Against Saint Francis, the V-Hawks were led by Izzy Jahr's 13 kills on a 0.391 hitting percentage. Senior Jada Mitchell boasted an impressive 0.700 hitting percentage on eight kills and picking up seven blocks. Maddie Connor led the team in assists with 25 in the first match, surpassing the 2,000 career assists milestone, and Resse Germann put up 19 digs. 

In their match against Concordia, Hailee Halverson and Jada Mitchell led the team with eight kills a piece, hitting 0.333 and 0.211, respectively. Jalen Hinzman added five blocks to the tally, while Maddie Connor led the team with 20 assists. Resse Germann led the team in assists with 10, and Jaden Polovina showed off her skills behind the line, nailing three aces. 

HOW IT HAPPENED (vs Saint Francis)

• Viterbo started the first set with an early three point run, highlighted by two kills from Jada Mitchell. Shortly after, Izzy Jahr gave back-to-back kills to put the V-Hawks up 6-3 early in the set. The team gained on their lead when they went on a 6-0 run in the middle of the set with two kills by Sadie Treptow. The V-Hawks ended set one on a 7-0 run with three kills from Izzy Jahr. The V-Hawks won the first set 25-10, showing their attacking skills with a 0.737 hitting percentage. 
• Set two opened with a little bit of back and forth, but a 5-0 run by Viterbo put the team ahead. During their 5-0 run, Hailee Halverson put pressure on Saint Francis with three aces. The V-Hawks held their lead going into the middle of the set, forcing Saint Francis to take a timeout. Out of the time out, Maddie Connor scored an ace followed by assisting Sadie Treptow to a kill. The V-Hawks held their lead for the remainder of the set, winning 25-16. 
• The V-Hawks started slow in set three, going down 5-1 early against Saint Francis. A four-point run from Viterbo tied the game up at 7-7 with back to back kill sfrom Jalen Hinzman. Casey Frankland went back to the line shortly after, acing Saint Francis twice in a row. Viterbo found themselves down again at 16-14, but an ace by Jaden Polovina and kills from Jalen Hinzman, Makena Ihle, and Izzy Jahr put the V-Hawks back on top at 20-17. Viterbo held the lead for the remainder of the set, ending the set, and the match, with a block by Sadie Treptow and Jada Mitchell. 

HOW IT HAPPENED (vs #4 Concordia)

• The V-Hawks started strong in set one with three straight points to open the match, marked by two hills from Hailee Halverson. Two aces from Concordia brought the game back to a near tie at 7-6, but Viterbo still held the edge. The V-Hawks went on a 4-0 run shortly after, bringing the lead to 11-6. Concordia fought back with a series of runs, and the team was tied at 17-17. Several ties happened afterwards, but a kill by Jada Mitchell pushed the teams into extra points at 24-24, and then again at 25-25. Viterbo took the 26-25 lead, but a kill by Concordia brought it to a tie at 26-26. Sadie Treptow to grab the 27-27 tie, but the V-Hawks eventually fell 29-27 in set one. 
• Makena Ihle scored the first point for the V-Hawks in set two on a kill. Concordia had an early run that put the V-Hawks down, but after some fighting back and an ace from Jaden Polovina, the V-Hawks tied it at 7-7. A 5-0 run by Concordia put the V-Hawks down at 18-13, and they couldn't fight out of the deficit. The V-Hawks fell in set two 25-16. 
• The V-Hawks opened set three with an early 5-2 lead, but Concordia answered with a 5-0 run. The two teams went back and forth from 8-8 until 13-13 when Concordia went on a 4-0 run. Though the V-Hawks were down by four points, they fought back and tied it up at 19-19 with a Casey Frankland ace. Another tie was secured at 21-21 with a Makena Ihle kill. Concordia eventually defeated the V-Hawks in set three 25-23.

STANDOUTS OF THE DAY

• Jada Mitchell: 16 kills on 0.379 percentage, 9 blocks
• Izzy Jahr: 20 kills, 5 digs, 3 blocks
• Hailee Halverson: 15 kills, 4 aces, 2 blocks
• Maddie Connor: 45 assists, 8 digs
• Resse Germann: 29 digs, 5 assists, 1 ace

NOTABLE ACHIEVEMENT

During the match against Saint Francis, Maddie Connor surpassed the 2,000 assist mark. On her second assist of the game, Maddie Connor reached 2,000 assists when she dished out a set to Jada Mitchell early in the first set. Congratulations Maddie! 

UP NEXT

Tomorrow, the V-Hawks will return to the court, facing off against the defending National Champions, #1 Indiana Wesleyan, at 11 AM. They will follow that game with an afternoon match against Peru State at 3 PM. Both matches will take place in Omaha, Nebraska at the College of Saint Mary Labor Day Classic.