DES MOINES, IOWA – 5th-ranked Grand View started their week on Wednesday. The Vikings met with the Yellowjackets of Graceland University; after a hot start, the Vikings took two straight sets from the Jackets before dropping the third. Grand View would emerge victorious after a scare in the fourth set. Set scores were 25-15, 25-13, 25-22, and 25-19.
 
After a sluggish start, the Vikings would rattle off four straight points to take an 11-5 lead. Grand View held a sizable lead after two kills from Leonardo Annichini and Bayron Valdez. Valdez followed his kill with an ace to hit a 20-11 lead. The Yellowjackets snagged a few more points, but GVU would lock down the first set after an Ace from Annichini, 25-15.

GVU would start with a three-to-nothing lead in the second set. The Jackets struggled with errors, forcing them into a timeout. GU would cut their deficit to three, but GVU would continue their dominance as they took the second set following a setter attack by Rafael Obrusnik, 25-13.

The Vikings struggled to find an offensive rhythm in the third set. Hitting above .400% but committed one more error than the Jackets, dropping the third set and forcing a fourth.
 
After the Jackets took the third set, they would roll their momentum into the fourth. The teams traded leads throughout the early parts of the fourth set. The Vikings inched ahead of the Yellowjackets after back-to-back kills from Valdez. The Vikings survived the late effort from Graceland to take the fourth set, 25-19.

UP NEXT?
The Vikings will host William Penn University in Charles S. Johnson Wellness Center this Friday, March 8th. The match will begin at 7:00 p.m. to close out play before spring break.

Team Notes

• Bayron Pena Valdez, and Leonardo Annichini both finished with 16 kills for the Vikings. Valdez totaled 24 swings for .458%, and Annichini had 23 attempts at .609 a clip.
• A trio of Vikings had 3 aces, Valdez, Annichini, and Dalton Dencklau
• Grand View totaled 10 blocks; Michael Meacham assisted on four.
• GVU is undefeated in the Heart at 7-0, to lead the conference race.