VALLEY CITY, N.D. (NewsDakota.com) – Following Friday’s victory over Waldorf, the Valley City State volleyball team couldn’t hang onto their momentum as they fell to Viterbo in three sets, 25-20, 25-15, 25-20.

The Vikings trailed the V-Hawks early but held onto 10 ties throughout the first set as the two battled for the early advantage. At 20-20, the V-Hawks scored five straight points capped by an ace from Adrianna Reinhart to take the first set 25-20.

Viterbo held onto their energy in set two, leading by as much as 11 points at 20-9. A big kill from Caitlyn Fischbach allowed the Vikings to start inching closer but couldn’t come back as Viterbo took set two, 25-15.

Valley City State continued to battle early in the third set, holding onto a 7-7 tie with Viterbo. The V-Hawks started to pull away, gaining a 17-12 lead until a Katie Juarez kill sparked a short run for the Vikings to get back within two at 17-15. The V-Hawks found the momentum to get all the way to set-point at 24-18 but a kill from Maara Nelson held it up. A kill from Clarissa Hilary and a second from Nelson allowed the Vikings to get within four, but a kill from Viterbo’s Kenzie Winker finished it off for Viterbo, 25-20.

Viterbo improves to 2-3 overall and 2-1 in the North Star. Valley City State falls to 3-7 overall and 2-1 in the conference.

Kallene Klever tallied a team-high 16 digs for the Vikings and Morganne Eppard added 11. Clarissa Hilary recorded 24 set assists and seven digs Saturday.

Caitlyn Fischbach led the Viking offense with seven kills while Katie Juarez and Maara Nelson each added six.

Kenzie Winker led the V-Hawks with a double-double Saturday, collecting 14 kills and 11 digs.. Chloe Jakscht added 13 assists and 10 digs, while Lauryn Sobasky tallied 17 assists and seven digs. Libero Adrianna Reinhart tallied 17 digs for the V-Hawks.

UP NEXT: Valley City State travels to Mayville State on Wednesday, Oct. 7. First serve is scheduled for 7 p.m.