From VCSU Athletics (Zac Lucy Photography)
FOREST CITY, IOWA (vcsuvikings.com) – Four Vikings hit individual high marks Friday night as the Viking volleyball team defeated Waldorf University in five sets, 17-25, 25-14, 26-28, 25-19 and 15-13.
Bailey Nelson collected a new season-best 21 kills in Friday’s win, while JayCee Richter added a career-high 30 digs and four service aces for the Vikings. Sadie Hansen also set a new season high with 43 set assists, and Morgan Nelson added a career-best five assisted blocks Friday.
VCSU improves to 7-7 overall and 2-0 in the NSAA while Waldorf drops to 8-3 on the season and 0-2 in the conference. The Vikings now have a 4-1 record in five-set matches this season.
After falling 25-17 in the first set, the Vikings stormed back with a 25-14 victory in set two. The Vikings collected 13 kills and committed just three attack errors in the set.
Then, the Vikings held an early 19-13 advantage in the third set but the Warriors were able to find an 8-2 run to hold a 21-21 tie. Each team tallied a pair of set-point opportunities before the Warriors put away the 28-26 victory on a kill from Abygail Wood.
VCSU wouldn’t give up though, taking the final five points in set four to win 25-19. The fifth set remained close early on, but VCSU pulled away with a 5-1 run to lead 11-7 on a service ace from Delani Clarke. Waldorf closed the gap to 14-13, but VCSU won the match on a Warrior service error.
Adding to the Viking attack included Emma Lucas who totaled eight kills, and Morgan Freije and Danielle Hagler who each chipped in six. Hagler added 12 digs for the Vikings and Delani Clarke totaled 10 digs and three service aces Friday.
Waldorf’s Kenzie Kidd totaled 13 kills and 11 digs Friday while Abygail Wood added 11 kills on a .458 attack percentage. Wood also posted eight blocks for the Warriors (1 solo, 7 assisted). Kaitlyn Bakke tallied 36 set assists for Waldorf Friday.
UP NEXT: VCSU travels to La Crosse, Wis. to face No. 9 Viterbo on Saturday, Sept. 24. First serve is at 1 p.m.