No. 4-Vikings Down Euts in Three Sets

The Eutectic men's volleyball team is in the midst of its best-ever season, challenging and surprising opponents and already posting 17 wins to secure a winning record. But, this week is challenging for the Purple and Gold, as they host three Heart of America Athletic Conference (HEART) teams all ranked in the top-10 in the NAIA over five days. After a loss to No. 8-Park University on Tuesday, the Eutectics faced the No. 4-Grand View University Vikings (Iowa)(17-5, 11-3 HEART) on Friday night, falling 25-15, 25-15, 25-18. On Saturday, they take on No. 5-ranked William Penn University (Iowa)(19-3, 12-2 HEART).

The Vikings' solid performance in Friday's straight-set victory over the Euts supported their No. 4-ranking in the NAIA. The GVU offense averaged 40.3% for attacking, while holding the Eutectics to 15.8%, with 34 total digs.

After an injury during warmup sidelined starter Connor Behymer, the Eutectics scrambled to readjust their strategy and court chemistry during the first set, falling behind 9-3 before Coach Frankenfield called a timeout. They returned to the court to win the next point off a kill by Grant Hoover, assisted by Cole Cwiklowski, but could not get any momentum going. After three straight points off two kills and an ace, the Vikings led 20-10. Dickson Colado and Cooper Hansen (2) would record kills assisted by Cwiklowski before the end of the set, but the Vikings would win the last two points of the set off two UHSP errors to take the set at 25-15.

At the start of the second set, it was the Vikings who wavered as the Eutectics looked more sure of themselves, winning the first two points off a Cameron Werner kill (from Cwiklowski) and a GVU error.  Three Viking errors in a row gave the Euts a 6-3 lead, but it wasn't long before the visitors would string together two kills, an ace, and a Eutectic error to take the lead at 8-7. The score was retied at 8, 9, 10, and 11, before two kills in a row from GVU's Leonardo Annichini gave the Vikings a lead (13-11) they would not relinquish. Up 16-13, the Vikings won seven points in a row off four kills (three from Annichini) and three UHSP errors to break the set wide open with a 10-point lead (23-13). Four points later, the set was over at 25-15.

The Vikings maintained a small lead early in the third set, going up 10-7 before a kill from Hoover, set up by Cwiklowski, and a GVU error got the Euts within one point at 10-9. The Vikings followed up with a couple of Annichini kills and a UHSP error to extend their lead to 14-9. The set, which included some incredible digs on both sides of the net and several unconventional and long rallies, eventually came to a close with GVU winning three of the last four points for a 25-18 third set to clinch the match.

Cooper Hansen led the Eutectics in kills with seven, while tacking on five digs in the match. Cameron Werner had four kills on seven attempts with only one error to average 42.9% in attacking. Cole Cwiklowski put up 25 assists, while Xavier Gamayo picked up seven digs.

Leonardo Annichini finished with 13 kills for the Vikings, mostly set from Guilherme Domdei Goedert, who tallied 37 assists.

The Eutectics are now 17-10 overall and 5-8 in the HEART as they head into Saturday's match against No. 5-ranked William Penn. The match is scheduled to begin at 12 p.m.