DES MOINES, IOWA – Grand View men's volleyball kicked off their home stretch with a Heart of America (HOA) match-up against the Ottawa University Braves. The Vikings came out strong, securing a dominant first-set victory. However, the Braves responded in the second set, evening the match at one set apiece. Grand View regained control, closing out the contest with a hard-fought comeback in the fourth set to seal the 3-1 victory. The Vikings claimed the match with set scores of 25-17, 21-25, 25-14, and 26-24.

Grand View showcased balanced distribution in the opening set, complementing their early advantage. A powerful back-row kill from Andre Leandro ignited a 15-10 lead, setting the tone for the Vikings. Momentum continued to build with a kill from Leonardo Annichini, followed by a Braves attacking error as Grand View neared set point. The Vikings closed out the set in dominant fashion, with a trio of kills—briefly interrupted by a lone Braves point—securing a 25-17 victory in the first frame.

The Vikings struggled in the second set, hitting just .062 while committing nine errors, allowing the Braves to stay alive with a 25-21 victory.

Grand View responded with a strong start in the third, fueled by a Braves sideout, a kill from Ryan Griffel, and an ace from Leonardo Annichini, forcing Ottawa into an early timeout as the Vikings jumped out to a 9-4 lead. Isaiah Kalima-Izuma delivered powerful swings throughout the night, continuing to add to GVU's advantage as they raced toward set point. Annichini sealed the dominant third set with a final kill, securing a commanding 25-14 win and putting the Vikings one step closer to victory.

In dramatic fashion, the 4th-ranked Vikings found themselves trailing Ottawa for much of the final set. After back-to-back kills from the Braves, Grand View was forced to call a timeout. The Vikings responded with two clutch kills from Isaiah Kalima-Izuma, shifting the momentum and prompting Ottawa to burn a timeout of their own while holding a slim two-point lead. With the match hanging in the balance, former Ottawa Brave Kevin Davidson stepped up at the service line, delivering five straight serves to fuel Grand View's comeback. The Vikings closed out the set in thrilling fashion, 26-24, securing a hard-fought 3-1 match victory.

GAME NOTES

• Leonardo Annichini led the Vikings with 14 kills on an impressive .571 hitting percentage, adding 2 aces and 8 digs for a well-rounded performance.
• Ryan Griffel matched Annichini with 14 kills, tallying 18.5 total points while contributing 3 block assists and a service ace.
• Isaiah Kalima-Izuma posted 13 kills and 14 total points, helping drive Grand View's offensive efforts.
• Andre Lucas Alves Leandro was highly efficient, recording 6 kills on just 8 swings for a .750 hitting percentage.
• Rafael Obrusnik ran the offense smoothly with 41 assists while also chipping in 3 kills, 9 digs, and an ace.
• Kevin Davidson played a pivotal role in the final set comeback, serving 5 straight points to help secure the win.
• Grand View finished the match hitting .310 as a team, with 55 kills and 69 total points in the 3-1 victory.

 
UP NEXT
The Vikings stay at home this Friday, March 7th, as they take on the Culver-Stockton Wildcats at 7:00 p.m. in an exciting matchup.