The Vikings volleyball team was excited going into this weekend to try and find their first win of the season and grab a conference win. Friday night they kicked off the weekend against the Scots of Monmouth.
The first game started off great for the Vikes when Laura Aerts served nine straight points to take a 9-0 lead. However, poor passing on serve receive and good blocking from the Scots brought the Scots right back into the game.
The Vikes battled hard but in the end the Scots took the first game 25-21. The next two games played out about the same way as the first. Melissa Schnettler and Claire Bohrer added some strong attack and aggressive serving to keep Lawrence in the match, but in the end the Scots blocking and intensity beat out the Vikes 25-22 and 25-22 to take the match.
It was clear that the Vikings had a chip on their shoulder when they went in to their first of two matches on Saturday against Illinois College. The Vikes played hard in the first game but they fell to the Lady Blues 25-22.
However, the Vikes came out in the second game with fire in their eyes. The Vikes came back and beat the Lady Blues 25-19 in the second game. Unfortunately, the Vikes lost their momentum in the third game. The Lady Blues served well and the Vikes battled hard to keep the game close.
Poor passing from the Vikings let them down and they lost 25-23. After that tough loss, the Vikings bounced right back and came out strong in the fourth game. The Vikings had to win the fourth game to force a game five and a chance to get their first win.
Good setting from Laura Aerts and Farrell Tremble and good defense from Margaret Rhatican and Claire Bohrer helped the Vikings force game five (25-20).
In game five the Vikings kept the game close and played with high intensity, but the Viking attack was a bit timid and, falling 15-12 in game five to the Lady Blues.
In the second game of the day, the Vikings took on the Warriors of Wisconsin Lutheran. The Vikings were both physically and mentally drained from their two earlier matches and could not seem to find the energy and motivation to be one hundred percent. The Vikings lost in three straight games 25-13, 25-15 and 25-15.
The Vikings are in action again this weekend Saturday, Oct. 4 against Marian and Dominican University at Marian University. Then again Oct. 10 and 11 the Vikings play a tournament at UW-Oshkosh.
Volleyball drops conference games
