DES MOINES, IOWA – In the Heart of America Game of the Week, the 6th-ranked Grand View University Vikings hosted the 7th-ranked Mount Mercy University Mustangs in a battle for the top spot in the North Division. Grand View came out strong, taking the opening set, but the Mustangs responded by claiming the second and third sets to gain the advantage. The Vikings rallied in the fourth set to force a decisive fifth, where they held their ground to secure the 3-2 victory. Set scores were 26-24, 21-25, 22-25, 25-20, and 15-12.

In the opening frame, the Mustangs jumped out to an early 8-3 lead, but the Vikings quickly chipped away at the deficit, capitalizing on a few long rallies and Mount Mercy errors. A momentum-shifting block by Ryan Griffel and Malachi, followed by a powerful ace from Leondro Annichini, gave Grand View its first lead at 11-10. After a run by the visitors, a pair of Daniel Galili kills evened the score at 13-13. A block by Andre Leandro and a Galili ace tied it up once more, but Griffel sealed the set with a decisive shot over the net that was too much to handle, securing the opening frame for the Vikings, 26-24.

Grand View struggled offensively in the second set, hitting just .040 on 25 attempts, which led to a 25-21 loss. The Vikings found more rhythm in the third set, improving their hitting percentage to .241, but the Mustangs answered with their second-best hitting performance of the night at .333 to take the set and seize a 2-1 match lead.

The Vikings forced an early Mustang timeout after a trio of Mount Mercy errors gave Grand View a 14-11 lead. A pair of kills from Leondro Annichini extended the advantage to four, and another set of Mustang miscues helped the Vikings pull away to claim the fourth set, 25-20, and force a decisive fifth.

Grand View fell behind early in the fifth set, trailing 5-2, before a clutch kill from Daniel Galili shifted the momentum. Back-to-back aces from the hot hand of Ryan Griffle gave GVU their first lead of the set. A pair of Mount Mercy errors sealed the deal as Grand View completed the comeback, securing a hard-fought 3-2 victory over the 7th-ranked Mustangs.

GAME NOTES

• Ryan Griffel led the Vikings with 16 kills on 33 attempts, hitting .273, while also adding 5 digs and 3 aces for a team-high 21.5 points.
• Daniel Galili recorded 15 kills and chipped in 3 digs and an ace, contributing 16.5 points despite a .050 hitting percentage.
• Leonardo Annichini was efficient with 9 kills on 19 attempts, hitting .316, while adding 4 aces and 8 digs for 13 total points.
• Malakai Christian was highly effective, hitting .500 with 4 kills on 6 attempts and adding 4 digs and 2 blocks.
• Rafael Obrusnik set the pace with 44 assists and contributed 4 digs and 2 points.
• Andre Lucas Alves Leandro added 5 kills on 12 attempts, hitting .250, with 6 digs and 9 total points.
• The Vikings combined for 10 service aces and 20 total blocks, holding Mount Mercy to a .207 hitting percentage.

 UP NEXT 
The Vikings head to the Arch City for a weekend series in St. Louis, starting with a matchup against the Eutectics of the College of Health Sciences and Pharmacy on Friday evening at 7:00 p.m.