Vikings Volleyball Season Ends with NSAA Semi-Final Loss to #2 Viterbo

Posted By: Anthony Varrasso
November 12, 2021 @ 11:01 pm
Sports

From VCSU Athletics

WATERTOWN, S.D. (VCSUAthletics.com) – The Valley City State volleyball team finished its season Friday night as the Vikings fell to No. 2 Viterbo in the NSAA Semifinals 25-23, 25-19 and 25-15.

Valley City State ends its season with a 14-18 overall record and finished with an 8-6 record in conference play under second-year head coach Brigitte Greywater. Viterbo improves to 36-1 and advances to the NSAA Championship game on Saturday.

VCSU’s Katie Juarez tallied 11 kills Friday night while Brooke Blessum and Bailey Nelson each chipped in five. Kallene Klever posted a game-high 14 digs and Lexi Leroux added six. Makayla Wetzel totaled three assisted blocks and a pair of service aces Friday.

Freshman Sadie Hansen totaled 21 set assists and eight digs for the Vikings. Hansen finishes the season with 1052 set assists in her freshman campaign and is one of just six Vikings to reach 1000 assists in a season.

The Vikings started strong and never allowed the V-Hawks to lead by more than five points in the first set. Trailing 23-19, the Vikings took four of the next five points – including a pair of kills and a service ace by Katie Juarez – to close the gap to 24-23. Viterbo held on with a kill from Garant to win the set 25-23.

Valley City State opened the second set with an 11-8 advantage including a pair of early kills from freshman Ella Roaldson. With the game later tied at 17-17, Viterbo closed out the set on an 8-2 run to take the set 25-19.

Viterbo then hit .552 and tallied 18 kills in the third set to complete the sweep with a 25-15 final set.

NSAA Player of the Year Miah Garant led Viterbo at the net with 13 kills and five assisted blocks Friday. Maya Roberts added nine kills, and Kenzie Winker finished with eight kills and seven digs.

Cailie Kowal finished with 20 set assists and Lauryn Sobasky added 16 assists for the V-Hawks. NSAA Defensive Player of the Year Adrianna Reinhart finished with a team-high 10 digs.

Viterbo will face Bellevue in the NSAA Championship game on Saturday at 2 p.m. in Watertown.