FREMONT, NEBRASKA – The Vikings traveled to Midland University for the NAIA National Championship Opening Round on Friday afternoon. In front of a crowd of 1,717, Grand View's season came to an end with a 3-0 loss to the host Warriors. The Vikings finished their season at 28-5 overall.
The first set started with Grand View taking immediate control. Mariana de Carvalho opened the match with a kill, and Aydia Mayotte went on a service run that included two aces to give the Vikings a 5-0 lead. Midland called timeout to regroup.
The Warriors slowly chipped away at the deficit. After Grand View led 8-5, Midland tied the match at 8-8. The set remained tight as both teams traded points. Vitoria Campos Mello and Jocelyn Barrett kept the Vikings in contention with key kills.
Midland took control late in the set with a 4-0 run to take a 19-15 lead. Grand View called timeout but couldn't stop the momentum. The Vikings fought back to make it 20-18, but Midland closed out the set 25-20.
The second set was another closely contested battle. Grand View opened with Barrett scoring, and de Carvalho added a service ace to give the Vikings a 5-4 lead. The teams traded points throughout, with neither able to pull away.
Midland surged ahead with a run that included back-to-back service aces to take a 16-11 lead. Grand View called timeout and responded with strong play from Campos Mello and Barrett. The Vikings rallied to tie the set at 17-17, then took an 18-17 lead on a block by Barrett.
Midland answered immediately, retaking the lead at 19-18. The Warriors pulled ahead 23-19, and despite a timeout by Grand View, Midland closed out the second set 25-20.
Facing elimination in the third set, Grand View started strong. De Carvalho scored early, and the Vikings led 4-3. Campos Mello and Kaylee Stalder added kills to keep Grand View in front at 6-4.
Midland responded with a decisive run, scoring five straight points to take an 11-8 lead. The Warriors extended their advantage to 14-10, and Grand View called timeout. The Vikings couldn't find their rhythm offensively, and Midland continued to pull away.
Grand View made one final push, with Stalder and Campos Mello scoring to cut the deficit to 20-14. Kennedy Brown added a service ace to make it 24-17, but Midland closed out the match 25-17, ending the Vikings' season.
Mariana de Carvalho and Vitoria Campos Mello each led Grand View with 11 kills. Jocelyn Barrett added 5 kills and led the team with 5 total blocks. Juliana Neves orchestrated the offense with 31 assists, while Maiah Kalima-Izumi anchored the defense with 12 digs. Aydia Mayotte contributed 2 service aces.
Despite the loss, Grand View put together an outstanding 2025 season. The Vikings
finished 28-5 overall and 18-1 in Heart of America Conference play, claiming the regular season conference title. The team advanced to the semifinals of the HEART Conference Tournament and earned a berth in the NAIA National Championship. The season featured memorable performances, including thrilling victories and a strong showing throughout conference play that established Grand View as one of the premier programs in the region.
GAME NOTES
- Mariana de Carvalho (11 kills, .269 hitting %, 5 digs, 1 ace)
- Vitoria Campos Mello (11 kills, .233 hitting %, 7 digs, 3 blocks)
- Jocelyn Barrett (5 kills, 5 blocks)
- Juliana Neves (31 assists, 3 digs)
- Maiah Kalima-Izumi (12 digs, 2 assists, 1 ace)
