Men’s Volleyball: Men’s Volleyball Program Earns First Career Win
The Viterbo men's volleyball played at home for the first time in program history on Saturday, February 9, 2019, at R.W. Beggs Senior Gymnasium, where in the first set of matches, the V-Hawks swept Maranatha Baptist University.
Unfortunately, later in the second set of matches, Viterbo fell short to Dordt College in three sets, scoring 11-25, 14-25, 21-25. Overall, Viterbo finished the day with a 1-2 record. While their competitors, Dordt are now 3-5 overall, and Maranatha Baptist is now 0-9 overall.
In the first set of matches, Viterbo led 5-4 in the first set. They went on an 11-5 run on eight kills. Freshman Chris Kahler from Waukesha, Wis., led the charge during his service rotation. Kahler hit two kills and two service aces over a run of 6-0. Another freshman Jacob Nonn from Cross Plains, Wis., hit two kills in the final three points to win the set, 25-14. The V-Hawks hit a scorching school-record .652 in the set.
The V-Hawks held the Sabercats to a hitting percentage of -.053 in the second set. Viterbo used an 11-3 run to take control of the period. Andrew LePage and Jacob Nonn hit service aces to wrap up the set with a 25-15 set win.
In the third set, the V-Hawks score six-straight points to lead 13-7. The SaberCats cut the deficit to four points, but the V-Hawks scored the final six points to win the final set, 25-15. Viterbo hit a season-high .384 with 37 kills and nine errors.
Jacob Nonn led the way with 15 kills on only one error (.636 hit %). Chris Kahler hit a season-high 11 kills. LePage totaled 33 assists and freshman Andy Roungtakoun from Rockford, Ill., had nine digs.
In the next set of matches, Viterbo cut the lead to 13-9 on a kill by Hansen and a Dordt attack error. Dordt ended the set on a 12-2 run to win the set, 25-11. The V-Hawks hit -.360 during the period to .222 for the Defenders.
Dordt led the entire second set, scoring the first three points and taking a 12-7 advantage on five V-Hawk errors. The Defenders ended the set on a 12-4 run to take control of the set, 25-14.
Viterbo hung tough in the final set. Trailing 4-7, the V-Hawks scored eight of the next 10 points on three kills and four Defender errors. Roungtakoun had a big save off a Dordt attack to save the point for the V-Hawks which led to a block kill by Hansen and sophomore Chris Hebron from Apple Valley, Minnesota, helped extend the lead to 15-12. Leading Dordt to end the match on a streak, scoring the final eight of ten points.
Nonn led the V-Hawks with eight kills, followed by seven from Kahler. LePage totaled 18 assists along with a team-high 12 digs for his first career double-double.