V-Hawks Drop Two at Missouri Baptist Invite

ST. LOUIS, Missouri -- The V-hawks traveled to St. Louis to face off against two ranked opponents on Wednesday afternoon as part of a four-game series at the Missouri Baptist Invitational. Viterbo played #19 Missouri Baptist for their first match of the game in a five-set thriller, followed by a match against the #9 ranked St. Thomas.

Sophomore Jalen Hinzman led the V-Hawks today with 17 kills, 3 digs, and 3 blocks between the two matches, hitting at a 0.560 clip. Shortly behind her was Hailee Halverson with 14 kills. Sadie Treptow and Izzy Jahr both contributed 13 kills to the mix. 

Liberos Riley Angst and Resse Germann each contributed 23 digs towards the V-Hawks' effort while senior Maddie Connor added 11 to the mix. 

Freshman Jaden Polovina led the team in assists with 32 followed shortly behind Maddie Connor with 22. 

HOW IT HAPPENED (VS MISSOURI BAPTIST)

• The V-Hawks played a neck and neck first set aainst Missouri Baptist, eventually taking the lead near the end of the set at 23-22. A block by Jada Mitchell and Resse Germann sealed set one for the V-Hawks at 25-23. 
• Set two followed the same format as set one until Missouri Baptist went on a 5-0 run to take an early 9-7 lead. The V-Hawks responded with their own 5-0 run, marked by an ace from Mia Quist and a kill by McKena Ihle. A second late run by the V-Hawks gave them a 19-13 lead late in the second set with kills by Izzy Jahr and Sadie Treptow. Missouri Baptist responded and took set two 26-24 in extra points. 
• Set three opened with a block by Jada Mitchell and Sadie Treptow. Most of the third set remained close until the V-Hawks pulled away for a 21-16 lead. A late fight by Missouri Baptist put the score at 24-24, but a block by Hailee Halverson and Jada Mitchell sealed the third set with a 26-24 victory for the V-Hawks. 
• Viterbo had a slow start in the fourth set, ending up down 6-13 early in the set. Kills by Jalen Hinzman and Hailee Halverson brought momentum to the V-Hawks' side, but Missouri Baptist didn't let up. The V-Hawks fell in set four 25-14.
• In a decicive fifth set, the set remained in a tie until a 4-0 run by Missouri Baptist to put the V-Hawks in a deficit at 7-10. A kill by Jada Mitchell brought the set back within two. A 3-0 run by the V-Hawks with a kill by Sadie Treptow brought the score back to 12-12, however Missouri Baptist pulled away at the end to defeat the V-Hawks 15-12. 

HOW IT HAPPENED (VS ST. THOMAS)

• Set one started off with a series of ties until the V-Hawks went on a 5-1 run to bring the score to 13-10 in favor of Viterbo. Viterbo held the three point lead until a late run by St. Thomas that brought the score to a 20-20 tie. A kill by Izzy Jahr kept the V-Hawks at a 22-21 deficit, but St. Thomas pulled ahead to win set one 25-21.
• Set two opened with another series of ties. A three point run by the V-Hawks kept the game tied at 8-8 and the game remained close until a 5-0 run from St. Thomas brought the score to 17-14 in favor of them. Viterbo continued to fight with a late kill by Jada Mitchell, however they fell to St. Thomas in set two 25-21. 
• The V-Hawks started slow in set three, allowing multiple runs by St. Thomas and finding themselves in a 15-8 hole. The V-Hawks fought back with a kill by Hailee Halverson and an ace from Jaden Polovina, but St. Thomas claimed a 25-14 victory in set three. 

V-HAWK STANDOUTS

• Jalen Hinzman: 17 kills, 0.560 attack percentage, 3 digs, 3 blocks
• Hailee Halverson: 14 kills, 5 blocks, 3 digs
• Jada Mitchell: 11 kills, 10 blocks, 4 digs
• Resse Germann: 23 digs, 4 assists, 1 ace
• Riley Angst: 23 digs, 5 assists
• Jaden Polovina: 32 assists, 5 digs, 2 aces
• Maddie Connor: 22 assists, 11 digs, 2 aces, 2 blocks

UP NEXT

The V-Hawks return to the court tomorrow, August 21, to face off against #20 at Midland (Neb.) at 10 AM and will play again at 2:30 PM against the #3 ranked Corban (OR).