By Adam Roberts – 4/19/2021
It’s no secret to area sports fans that Viterbo women’s volleyball has built an excellent program in the last 10 years, with numerous deep runs in the NAIA Tournament most recently falling in the semifinals to Westmont in 2019. It’s also no secret to knowledgeable fans that the path to a volleyball championship at any collegiate level is very difficult, and couple it with the uncertainty of a COVID season, and the whole thing becomes even more challenging.
Nevertheless, both Viterbo and Wisconsin are making deep runs this year, with the V-Hawks defeating a very respectable Madonna University of Michigan in straight sets and the undefeated Badgers taking out BYU in their fourth straight sets win over a row. Viterbo was paced in set three by a trio of kills from Winona freshman Grace Rohde, while Caledonia junior Adrianna Reinhart led the team in total digs and Omalaska freshman Cailie Kowal had three services aces on the day. Meanwhile, Wisconsin’s Molly Haggerty had a season-high 14 kills against the Cougars while Dana Rettke stuffed six BYU shots.
Wisconsin can punch their ticket to the Final Four with a win over Florida today, while Viterbo is off until April 27th when they’ll begin pool play in Sioux City, Iowa.