Vikings Clip Men's Volleyball

MEQUON, Wis. – The Concordia University Wisconsin men's volleyball team came up just short on Tuesday night against North Park University, falling 3-1 in a hard-fought match. The Falcons dropped the first two sets, 20-25 and 19-25, before winning the third set 25-20. However, the Vikings closed out the match with a 25-17 victory in the fourth set, handing CUW an 0-3 start to the season.

The first set saw the Vikings jump out to an early lead, scoring the first four points of the match. Despite some strong efforts, the Falcons were unable to mount a sustained comeback. CUW managed to pull within two points, 13-15, thanks to a combination of Viking errors and a timely kill from junior Chase Ammons (Elm Grove, Wis.). However, North Park responded each time the Falcons generated momentum, ultimately taking the first set 25-20.

The second set was more closely contested, featuring eight ties and three lead changes. Freshman Tate Hildebrandt (Hebron, Ind.) made an immediate impact off the bench, tying the set at 7-7 with a kill from freshman setter Hayden Hurley (Gilbert, Ariz.). Another kill from junior Lucas Beres (Germantown, Wis.) later tied the score at 10-10. But after a brief surge by the Vikings, the Falcons fought back and trimmed the deficit to one, 16-17, following another Viking error. However, North Park closed out the set 25-19, taking a 2-0 match lead.

CUW came alive in the third set, which saw nine ties and four lead changes. The Falcons, led by strong serving from Ammons, went on a 4-0 run that forced North Park to call a timeout. Freshman Parker Butterfass (Shakopee, Minn.) contributed a kill during the run, while Beres and the Vikings' errors helped CUW establish control. The Falcons reached the 20-point mark first, and with key blocks from Ammons and freshman Owen Kolozsy (Carol Stream, Ill.), they sealed the set 25-20, keeping the match alive.

The momentum from the third set didn't carry over into the fourth, as North Park once again took control early. Despite a strong effort from CUW, the Vikings held their ground and eventually secured the 25-17 win to clinch the match 3-1.

Several players stood out for the Falcons in the defeat. Tate Miller and Kolozsy each recorded a team-high seven kills, while Beres finished with five kills and hit .308 for the match. Junior Logan Kebisek (Brookfield, Wis.) was solid from the service line, recording two aces and contributing 16 assists. Hurley added 12 assists for the Falcons.

Defensively, Miller led the team with 20 serve receptions and nine digs. Beres contributed six block assists, while Ammons posted one solo block and five block assists as CUW totaled 23 block assists as a team.

The Falcons now turn their attention to an upcoming east-coast road trip, beginning with a matchup against American International College on January 24th.