4-Set Thriller Ends in Favor of the Vikings; Galili with 20 Kills

Men’s Volleyball | Thu, Feb. 2, 2023 at 8:50 PM

Des Moines, IA – No. 1 ranked Grand View men’s volleyball would host their first conference foe at home this evening, the Vikings and Missouri Baptist University would go to four sets and the Vikings would come out on top with scores of, 

Set 1: Grand View University 25 l Missouri Baptist University 21

In the first set, the Vikings start things off right and would go up 3-0 early. The two talented teams would go back and forth for a few points, but the Vikings would consistently have the answer to the Spartan’s point. Bayron Valdez (JR/Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic) would get a kill assisted by Zeo Meyer (JR/Wheaton, IL ) and would put the Vikings back in front 15-14. Back-to-Back kills from Daniel Galili (SO/Shomrat, Israel) would force Missouri Baptist into a timeout putting them down 21-19. After the timeout, the Vikings would be too much for the Spartans to contain, and a series of kills from Nickolas Lima (FR/Curitiba, Brazil ) and Daniel Galili would once again push a timeout for the Spartans, and an error on their end would put this set in favor of the Vikings, 25-21. 

Set 2: Grand View University 29 l  Missouri Baptist University 27

The second set would be the difference maker for the contest. The Vikings would outlast the Spartans to take the set 29-27. A few opening errors by the Vikings would push the Spartans out to an early 7-4 lead. The Vikings would rally behind and tie things up at 12 all, with a kill from Gioele Lacono. After trading points, the Vikings would call a timeout once the Spartans pulled ahead, 21-19. Following the timeout, the Vikings would combine on a block by Nicolas Vattier (SO/Santiago, Chile) and Bayron Valdez, putting the team behind one. Daniel Galili would find the hole in the floor for an ace and would follow it up with a kill tying things at 24. The Spartans would have six opportunities to put this set away in their favor, but errors would let the Vikings sneak by, 29-27. 

Set 3: Grand View University 21 l  Missouri Baptist University 25

A dicey start again for the Vikings would find us tied at 4s early on. Zeo Meyer would get the setup from Dalton Dencklau (SR/Lehigh, IA ) for a kill and would extend the Viking’s lead to 9-7. A blocking error by the Vikings would force head coach Negoruia into a timeout, and the Vikings would respond well with a kill from Valdez. late errors by the Vikings, and a few late…