V-HAWK VOLLEYBALL FINISHES SEASON AT NAIA NATIONAL TOURNAMENT
The Viterbo University V-Hawks (40-2) volleyball team has had an incredible season, losing only two matches in the regular season. The team headed to the National Association of Intercollegiate Atletics (NAIA) National Tournament to compete against other qualifying teams for the national title. The V-Hawks were ranked number two and were predicted to do great things at Nationals.
The tournament started with pool play on November 29, and the V-Hawks faced the College of the Ozark (29-14) for round one. This match began with a very close first set, where the V-Hawks only pulled ahead by 4 points at the end. The momentum from this first win carried Viterbo forward, and they won the next two sets against the College of the Ozarks, winning the match 3-0.
The next day, the V-Hawks (41-2) battled Carroll College (23-8) for another round of pool play. The teams fought hard back and forth during the first set, but the V-Hawks fell just short of victory, losing 25-23. Viterbo turned things around in the second game of the set, pulling ahead to win 27-25. This momentum carried on to the third set where the V-Hawks started strong, pulling ahead and won the set. In the final game of the match, Viterbo continued their winning streak and ended up winning the match with a final set score of 25-20.
This win advanced the V-Hawks (42-2) to challengedthe Doane University Tigers (25-9). The V-Hawks won game one against the Tigers with a final score of 25-21. They continued their efforts in the second set, ending with another winning score of 25-17. They took on the third set with a little less stamina, only pulling ahead by one point to win it thanks to a kill by VU sophomore Aubrey Aspen and an error from Doane University. With the final win of 28-26 for the V-Hawks, they had won the match against Doane 3-0.
After an incredible run at the NAIA national tournament, the V-Hawks (43-2) began to lose steam against the Westmount College Warriors (34-1). Although the V-Hawks began with a lead against the Warriors in the first set, Westmount rallied to pull ahead and win 25-22. During game two against the Warriors, Viterbo could not seem to score against the tough opposing defense and VU lost 25-10. They battled hard during the final game of the setting, falling just short of the Warriors. Viterbo ended game three against Westmount with a final score of 26-24, ending their run at the NAIA National Tournament.
Although the V-Hawks did not win Nationals, their journey this season was an incredible success. The team had a winning season, unfortunately ending in a loss against the Westmount College Warriors, who were ranked number one for the tournament. Viterbo played hard all season, and their work ethic showed at Nationals where they dominated until the final match. The 2016 season was incredible for Viterbo, and they hope to dominate again in 2017.