VALLEY CITY, N.D. (VCSUVikings.com)- The Valley City State volleyball team played its first conference road games of the season this weekend, falling short in a pair of matches at Waldorf University and Viterbo University.

The Vikings went to five sets Friday night at Waldorf University but came out on the short end in set five. On Saturday, the Vikings dropped a three-set match at Viterbo University, which is ranked No. 5 in the country.

Valley City State is now 8-10 overall and 2-3 in the NSAA. The Vikings next play at Mayville State on Wednesday, Oct. 3. First serve is set for 7 p.m. in Mayville.

Waldorf University 3, VCSU 2
The Vikings and Warriors traded set victories throughout the night as VCSU won sets two and four by identical scores of 25-21. Waldorf University won sets one, three and five by scores of 25-19, 25-21, 15-11.

VCSU opened the fifth set with a 6-3 lead, but Waldorf would score nine of the next 11 points to take a 12-8 lead they would not relinquish.

Valley City State hit .157 in the match while Waldorf hit .143. VCSU served seven aces and had 13 errors. Waldorf had nine aces and nine service errors. VCSU held an 8-7 advantage in blocking.

Three Vikings reached double-digit kills, led by Clarissa Olson who posted 13 kills and a .429 hitting percentage. Paige Benson totaled 12 kills while Katie Juarez added 10 kills in the loss. Charlotte Huschka led the defense with 22 digs while Hailie Wilds added 14 digs.

Leah Ruter totaled 26 assists, and Reagan Ingstad had 13 assists and 13 digs.

Viterbo University 3, VCSU 0
The V-Hawks showed why they are a Top 5 team in the nation Saturday as they downed the Vikings in straight sets: 25-19, 25-16, 25-17.

Viterbo outhit VCSU in the match. 274 to .115, and held an 8-4 advantage in blocking.

Paige Benson posted six kills for VCSU while Clarissa Olson and Autumn Johnson each had five kills. Leah Ruter totaled 18 assists and Charlotte Huschka had a team-high eight digs.