CEDAR RAPIDS, IOWA – The third overall-seeded Grand View University Vikings hit the road this time around for the #BattlefortheRedBanner; the Vikings are one of two teams who have qualified for the National Championship every season. In their opening match of the 2024 Championships, the Vikings faced 11th-seeded Westcliff Warriors out of California. A more comfortable route in pool play would lay on the line in the first-ever meeting between the two. After a hot start, the Warriors would take the match 3-2. Set scores were 25-11, 26-24, 25-20, 25-20, and 21-19.
At the start, the Warriors gave the Vikings an advantage with three consecutive errors, allowing Grand View to take a 5-1 lead swiftly. An ace from Bayron Valdez Pena further bolstered this lead. In the opening frame of the National Championship pool play, the Vikings displayed their prowess, hitting an impressive .500 and comfortably winning the set 25-11.
Both teams demonstrated their resilience in the second set. The score was a constant back and forth, with Grand View gaining a comfortable lead thanks to the efforts of
Leonardo Annichini and
Daniel Galili. However, West Cliff refused to back down, pushing the set to extra points and clinching it 26-24.
The third set was rocky for the Vikings, who made four straight errors, leading to a six-point tie. The Warriors commanded a 19-17 lead, which set them up to take a 25-20 set three win, taking over the overall race 2-1.
Grand View, determined to turn the tide, looked much more in control in the fourth set. They started with a 5-3 lead; the Warriors, however, would push for another tie as they met at six points apiece. Undeterred, the Vikings quickly rallied, taking an 18-15 lead after WU committed a side out, followed by a tight line block from Annichini and Leandro. GVU would hit 20 first after Galili put down the kill, forcing Westcliff to take a timeout. Leandro would put two down back-to-back, giving Grand View a 22-17 lead. A major block by Valdez would ease the crowd, sending Grand View into the set point. The Vikings would force the fifth set after an attack error from the Warriors.
The two teams exchanged points in the fifth set until the Warriors took advantage of an attack error to win the set 21-19.
Team Notes
UP NEXT?
Grand View will move to their second pool play match on Thursday; the Vikings meet with Saint Xavier for the first time this season despite playing in the team tournament back in January. The match between the two will take place at 10:00 AM. Westcliff University will match up with Saint Xavier tomorrow at 10:00 AM, before the game between the Vikings and Cougars.
