By Temo Olvera/Managing editor

The Missouri Valley College’s Women’s Volleyball team swept three teams at the Viking Invitational. The Vikings went into the weekend 3-0 after the first match against Southwestern College. Then they defeated Tabor College and Friends University on Saturday. 

“Last week… we were playing as individuals and now it’s really pretty to see how girls come together and play as one,” Women’s Volleyball Head Coach, Antonija Cooper.

“We’re looking for a really good season, a competitive one and like we’re aiming high,” said Viking #12 Ksenija Simun “So this is quite a bit of motivation for all of us

Southwestern

The Vikings swept Southwestern with double-digit advantages in the first two sets. The Vikings and Moundbuilders traded leads early in the third set. The Vikings pulled away 14-8, but the Moundbuilders reduced their deficit. 19-16. Viking #17, Maria Bertholdo made a kill to finish the set, ending the match 25-10, 25-16, 25-21

“We’re going two and oh tomorrow for sure,” said Cooper on Friday. “We’re definitely winning that. ”

Tabor

The Vikings started the weekend with another sweep, against Tabor College 25-20, 25-27, 25-17. The Vikings took the lead early in the second set, but the Bluejays stayed right behind them. An ace by Simun and three kills by #8 Juliana Oliviera pushed the Vikings ahead 19-13. After a kill by #11 Jisell Chumacero four Viking errors shortened the gap for the Bluejays 21-17. A kill by Viking #11 Chumacero followed by a couple of Bluejay errors ended the set.

The Bluejays shot ahead of the Vikings 4-1 in the second set. A handful of Viking errors and Bluejay kills left the Vikings trailing 14-6. 

“I started very slow,” said Bertholdo. “The floor was very slippery too. I think that kind of got in the way. But my hitting, I think it was not good. I was not controlling really well where I wanted to hit. And also I think that I got in the way of the middle because on the free balls, we were supposed to cross and I wasn’t crossing.”

Kills from #4 Lynsey Day and Oliviera and three from Chumacero reduced the Bluejay advantage 15-12. The Blue Jays tried pulling away again 19-15, but a block shared by Bertholdo and Chumacero along with a pair of Chumacero aces tied the score 19-19. The Bluejays had multiple game points until Oliviera brought the Vikings ahead and Chumacero made the final kill. 

The Vikings took the lead in the final set and the Bluejays trailed close behind. Kills from #2 Nekane Parera, Chumacero, Oliviera, and Simun put the Vikings ahead 10-4. The Viking advantage grew 14-6 after a Bertholdo kill. Another kill by Parera put the Vikings ahead by double digits 18-8. The Bluejays managed to reduce their deficient 20-16 with a few kills, but a #5 Jeanie Palsis ace followed by kills from Simun and Chumacero ended the set. 

Friends

The Vikings took a final sweep with their match against Friends University 25-14, 25-17, 25-14. 

“Ohhh, it felt so good to play on the court again,” said Palsis. 

The Vikings pulled away in the first minutes of the set 6-2. The Falcons quickly caught back up 6-5. From there the Vikings managed to stay barely ahead of the Falcons until three kills by Oliviera put them ahead 14-8. The Vikings continued pulling away with a kill made by Chumacero 24-12. A Falcon error ended the set. 

The Vikings shot ahead 14-7 in the second set then built their advantage, 19-10. The Falcons made progress catching up, but a block by Chumacero, and a kill by Day, kept the Vikings far ahead 23-16. Day made the assist to Simun who ended the set. 

The Falcons drew first blood in the third set. The Falcons kept up until Simun and Day made three kills putting the Vikings ahead 7-4. Viking #5, Jeanie Palsis, and Simun made aces alongside kills by Simun and Oliviera putting the ahead 14-7.  Kills from #10, Esther Muhingira, #2, Nekane Parera, and Chumacero, put the Vikings even farther ahead 20-10. Another Falcon error ended the set. 

“Beginning, you know everyone has those jitters, you know, first couple games… but definitely super excited,” said Chumacero. “Because I mean not to brag or anything, but my team, my teammates, everything. The energy, everything is amazing. So I was super excited. I knew we were going to dominate this tournament.