Vikings Handle Business With a Season Sweep Over UHSP

Men’s Volleyball | Sat, Feb. 25, 2023 at 4:35 PM

St. Louis, MO- The Vikings were back in action after their thrilling 4-set victory last night. The Vikings squared off against the University of Health Sciences and Pharmacy for the second time this season. After a tight first set, Grand View was able to handle business with a three-set sweep, 29-27, 25-15, and 25-19. 

Set 1: Grand View University 29 | UHSP 27

Bayron Valdez (JR/Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic) got the Vikings started in the first set as he picked up 3 kills to start the match. Nickolas Lima (FR/Curitiba, Brazil ) got in on the action as he picked up a kill with an assist by Zeo Meyer (JR/Wheaton, IL ). After some back-and-forth possessions, Daniel Wong (SR/Campbell, CA ) got the Vikings back on track with a kill, followed up by an ace from Dalton Dencklau (SR/Lehigh, IA ) giving the Vikings a one-point lead, 15-14. Valdez would tack on three more kills as the match neared its end. Wong also helped provide a boost at the end of the match before Lima got the Viking’s final kill of the set helping set the Vikings up to force an attack error from the Eutectics to seal the deal on set one, 29-27. 

Set 2: Grand View University 25 | UHSP 15

Vikings jumped out to a lead thanks to a block from Gioele Iacono (SO/Milan, Italy ) and they never looked back. Wong picked up a pair of kills to extend the lead that was followed up by a Lima Ace. The Vikings kept the pressure on with kills from Valdez and Brendan Edgington (SR/Ankeny, IA ) giving them a 6-point lead, 15-9. Wong and Valdez took over in the second half of the set as they carried the Vikings towards victory, assisted by a handful of Eutectics errors. Vikings take set 2 25-15. 

Set 3: Grand View University 25 | UHSP 19

Wong got the ball rolling for the Vikings in set three as a picked up his first kill. Nicolas Marion (FR/Jundiai, Brazil) also got in on the action as he picked up a kill just before Iacono picked up three kills for the Vikings. The Vikings went on a short run forcing UHSP to take a timeout to regroup. After the timeout, Wong collected another kill giving the momentum back to the Vikings. Michael Meachem (JR/Mesa, AZ ) and Isaiah Kalima-Izumi (SO/Waimanalo, HI ) both helped as they picked up kills. Kalima-Izumi picked up an ace as well before Meyer was able to put the set away with a kill. Vikings take set 3 25-19. 

Key Players… 

Bayron Valdez led the Vikings with 16 kills while…