LA CROSSE, WIS.(VCSUVikings.com) – The Valley City State volleyball team advanced to the semifinals of the NSAA Tournament on Friday before losing to top seed and No. 7-ranked Viterbo University.
VCSU opened the day with a three-set sweep of Mayville State University in the quarterfinals, winning 25-23, 25-21 and 26-24.
That moved the Vikings onto the semifinals where they met up with Viterbo University for the third time this season. Viterbo outlasted the Vikings in extra points in set one, 28-26, and then finished the match with 25-14 and 25-21 victories.
The Vikings end their season with a 15-15 overall record.
NSAA Quarterfinals: VCSU 3, Mayville State 0
Clarissa Olson pounded home a match-high 18 kills and the Vikings hit .207 as a team as they rolled to a quarterfinal sweep against Mayville State on Friday afternoon.
The teams were tied 23-23 in the opening set before Autumn Johnson put the Vikings up with a kill and then Hailie Wilds recorded set point with a service ace, securing a 25-23 win.
The Vikings never trailed in set two, opening up a 17-10 lead at one point. The Comets fought back to within one point at 22-21, but Olson recorded kills on VCSU’s final three points of the 25-21 victory.
Mayvllle State led most of set three before VCSU rallied late to secure the match. Trailing 19-16, Valley City State scored three straight points to tie it at 19-19. Mayville State took the lead and had one set point at 24-23, but the Vikings would score the final three points of the match. Olson tied it and then put the Vikings up 25-24 with back-to-back kills off assists from Leah Ruter. Match point came on an attacking error by the Comets, giving VCSU at 26-24 victory.
Olson led VCSU’s hot hitting with 18 kills and just two errors in 28 attacks, finishing with a .571 hitting percentage. Katie Jaurez and Autumn Johnson each had nine kills in the victory. Hailie Wilds finished with 19 digs and two aces, both team highs, while Leah Ruter posted 26 assists. Reagan Ingstad had a double-double of 14 assists and 12 digs.
NSAA Semifinals: Viterbo University 3, VCSU 0
Valley City State took the No. 7-ranked V-Hawks to the limit in set one of the semifinal match. Valley City State led by as many as four points, 18-14, and also had two set points late at 24-23 and 25-24. Each time though, Viterbo was able to rally back as they picked up a 28-26 victory.
The V-Hawks started set two fast as they built a 15-4 lead en route to a 25-14 victory. The teams traded leads through most set three, but Viterbo scored four of the final five points to post a 25-21 win and secure the match.
The Vikings hit .099 in the match, compared to .245 for the V-Hawks. McKinley Putnam, Katie Juarez and Autumn Johnson all had six kills for VCSU. Leah Ruter finished with a team-high 15 assists, and Kallene Klever had a team-high nine digs.