DES MOINES, IOWA – In a high-stakes battle, 5th-ranked Grand View University men's volleyball hosted the 12th-ranked Park University Pride on Tuesday evening. This game was not just about rankings but about the fate of the Heart of America Conference Championship and regular season results. After a nail-biting start, Grand View turned the tables, defeating Park in three straight sets. This victory not only secured a share of the regular season title but also a bye in the opening round of the Heart Tournament, and first overall seed. The set scores of the match were 25-23, 25-20, 25-20, and 25-16.
Although it showed some power in the opening set, Grand View men's volleyball would drop it by a score of 25-23. The Pirates saw their most efficient offensive check-in set one, hitting .333 on 24 swings.
Set two saw a 6-1 Grand View run to open things up, and
Dalton Dencklau served four straight, forcing Park into a timeout. After a small Pirate scoring run, Bayron Valdez Pena, the player of the evening, hammered back-to-back kills to give Grand View another sizable lead, forcing Park into a second timeout. After Park secured two kills,
Daniel Galili would send GVU to match point leading, 24-20. Galili then closed set two with an ace. Knotting the overall race at 1 set apiece.
Grand View was on fire in the third set, hitting their most efficient set of the evening at .500%, totaling 18 kills on 28 attempts.
Leonardo Annichini grabbed a kill for a 20-16 Viking lead. To close out the third set, Valdez caught fire to tally two straight kills, followed by a match-point ace to send Grand View up 2-1.
The Vikings took a commanding lead in the final set and didn't look back, coasting to a four total set and three straight set win over the Pirates.
The standout performer for the Vikings was senior sensation Bayron Valdez Pena, who played a pivotal role in the team's victory. Pena tallied a match-high 19 kills, hitting an impressive .552%, along with five aces, six digs, and seven blocks. His exceptional performance was instrumental in securing the win for Grand View.
Team Notes
- The Vikings honored their three vital seniors, Dalton Dencklau, Max Martin, and Bayron Valdez Pena.
- Grand View secured a regular season share of the conference title with the win over Park.
- Daniel Wong recorded seven blocks.
- The Vikings had not beaten the Pirates in Charles S. Johnson Wellness Center since 2022, when they won the National Championship; the overall series moves to 16-16.
UP NEXT?
Grand View will earn a first-round tournament bye this coming weekend and will resume play in Charles S. Johnson Wellness Center, which will host the winner of Missouri Valley and Missouri Baptist. More game details will follow after this weekend's matches.
