DES MOINES, IOWA – The Vikings hosted Mount Mercy University on Monday evening for their first home match of the 2026 season. Despite a spirited effort, Grand View fell in straight sets, 25-21, 25-23, 25-19. The Vikings dropped to 2-4 overall and 1-3 in Heart of America Conference play.
The opening set started with challenges for Grand View as the Mustangs built an early 9-2 lead. The Vikings called timeout to regroup and began their comeback. Jonathan Rzepa and Cheikh Sou combined for a block to spark the rally, and Sou added a kill from Marcus Taylor to make it 4-10.
Jake Winters contributed a kill from Guilherme Domdei Goedert, and Andre Lucas Alves Leandro scored from Taylor to pull Grand View within 9-12. Pietro Fadanelli delivered a kill from Domdei Goedert, and Leandro added another from Domdei Goedert to make it 11-13.
Rzepa connected on consecutive kills to bring the Vikings within 14-15, and Leandro recorded a service ace to tie the set at 14-14. Fadanelli scored from Domdei Goedert to make it 15-16, and Winters added a kill from Domdei Goedert to tie the set at 17-17.
Grand View continued to battle as Fadanelli scored again from Domdei Goedert to make it 20-20. Rzepa contributed to pull the Vikings within 21-24, but Mount Mercy closed out the opening set 25-21.
Between the first and second sets, Grand View hosted its 3rd Annual Teddy Bear Toss, with fans throwing stuffed animals onto the court to be donated to local charities. Thank you to all the students and faculty in attendance that helped support the local community.
The second set saw Grand View fight to stay competitive. Domdei Goedert and Fadanelli combined for a block early, and Rzepa added a kill from Domdei Goedert to make it 3-3. Fadanelli and Leandro blocked an attack to give the Vikings a 5-4 lead.
Fadanelli went on a dominant run, scoring three consecutive kills from Taylor to extend Grand View's lead to 13-10. Mount Mercy called timeout, and Fadanelli added another kill from Taylor to push the advantage to 14-10.
Rzepa connected on a kill from Domdei Goedert to make it 16-13, and Leandro scored from Domdei Goedert to give Grand View a 17-14 lead. The Vikings led 20-19 before Mount Mercy rallied late. Grand View called two timeouts trailing 21-20 and 22-21, but couldn't stop the momentum as the Mustangs took the second set 25-23.
Between the second and third sets, Grand View hosted Musical Chairs for Skol Fest, with students representing various Grand View clubs and organizations competing for the win.
In the third set, Grand View looked to extend the match. Leandro scored from Domdei Goedert to tie the set at 2-2, and Fadanelli contributed to make it 4-3. Sou delivered a kill from Domdei Goedert to pull the Vikings within 6-7.
Leandro connected on a kill from Winters to make it 8-9, and Sou added another from Domdei Goedert to bring Grand View within 10-11. Mount Mercy called timeout, and the Vikings fought back as Fadanelli scored consecutive kills from Domdei Goedert to tie the set at 13-13.
Grand View called timeout trailing 13-14, and Fadanelli added another kill to make it 14-15. Sou scored from Domdei Goedert to pull within 15-16, and Winters delivered a kill from Domdei Goedert to make it 17-18.
Leandro and Winters connected on back-to-back kills to tie the set at 21-21, but Mount Mercy finished strong to take the third set 25-19 and complete the sweep.
Despite the loss, Grand View showed resilience throughout the match, battling back in each set and creating an exciting atmosphere for their first home contest of the season.
GAME NOTES
UP NEXT
Grand View will look to bounce back this Saturday as the host Kansas Wesleyan University. That game will begin at 4:00 PM on February 21st, inside Charles S. Johnson Wellness Center.
