DES MOINES, IA – Grand View Women's Volleyball defeated Morningside University in four sets to cap off their home opener! The Vikings dropped the first set 19-25, before taking three straight sets 20-25, 20-25, 22-25.  

The first set started with troubles for the Vikings, trailing five early in the set. The Vikings brought things within one, 11-12, with big kills by Mariana de Carvalho. Morningside weathered the storm and pushed the lead back to five. The Mustangs held the advantage the rest of the set and closed the game 19-25.  

Juliana Neves started the second set with an ace and sparked light for the Vikings. Grand View battled through a back-and-forth start before taking control midway and pulling away for a 25–20 win over Morningside. Strong offensive play from Vitoria Campos Mello and Mariana de Carvalho fueled the Vikings' run. Key service runs included a momentum-shifting ace from Aydia Mayotte. This helped Grand View build separation late in the set. Despite some service errors, the Vikings' front line was dominant at the net, combining for kills and blocks that closed the door on Morningside's rally attempts and evened the match. 

Grand View continued their strong play in the third set, fending off a late push from Morningside to claim a 25–20 victory and took a one-set lead. After trading points early, the Vikings built momentum behind key kills and service aces from Maiah Kalima-Izumi and Jocelyn Barrett. Grand View's balanced attack kept Morningside on its heels, as setter Juliana Neves spread the offense effectively to multiple hitters. Although Morningside rallied late, the Vikings maintained composure and closed out the set on another Vitoria kill, showcasing their depth and control on both sides of the net. 

Grand View capped off the match with a strong fourth-set performance, closing out Morningside 25–22. The Vikings set the tone early with kills from Vitoria Campos Mello and Mariana de Carvalho. Although Morningside rallied with a string of service aces and kills to pull ahead briefly, Grand View responded with poise. GV used a balanced attack and timely blocks to retake control of the game. Carvalho once again delivered in key moments and took over in the final stretch alongside a great defensive effort from the team. The Charles S. Johnson Wellness Center was electric in the final rallies, uplifting the Vikings to their first home victory.  

GAME NOTES 

• Mariana de Carvalho finished with 23 kills and a .413 hitting pct.  

• Vitoria Campos Mello finished with 18 kills 

• Juliana Neves had 40 assists through the four sets, along with 11 digs and 2 serves aces 

UP NEXT 

• Grand View will travel to the MVC Tournament this Friday and Saturday to compete.