SIOUX CITY, Iowa – The Texas Wesleyan volleyball team (25-10) lost another closely contested match against Grand View University (29-10) in day two of pool play of the 2019 NAIA Women's Volleyball National Championship presented by Marriott South Sioux City River Front at the Tyson Events Center on Wednesday. The Vikings won 3-0 (25-21, 25-22, 25-14).
 
The Lady Rams struggled to generate offense despite staying solid on the block. Texas Wesleyan got in on seven blocks, but the Vikings were able to find the floor 18 more times on the attack.
 
Veronika Webb led the team with 5 blocks. Arianna Alvarado posted seven kills, while Sydney Charlton tacked on six. Morgan Burns finished with 14 assists. Madison Lopez drew 18 digs for the Lady Rams.
 
In the first set, TXWES got in a 5-point hole early. A booming Webb kill created a spark, leading to a 7-2 Ram rally to tie the set at 16 apiece, prompting a Viking timeout. Grand View kept momentum though, as well as a narrow margin lead for the opening frame win.
 
In set two, the teams went back and forth, tying the game 7 times in first 14 points of the set. GVU went on an 8-1 spurt to gain an eight point lead at 21-13. The Lady Rams dug-in and out-scored the Vikings 9-4 the rest of the way, but ran out of real estate. 
 
In the third, TXWES dug a hole early, trailing 12-4 after a bevy of mishaps. The Lady Rams cut the lead to four after a Webb kill and a GVU error made it 14-10, but the Vikings were firing on all cylinders. Grand View hit .406 in the final set, a tournament best for the Vikings.  
 
Texas Wesleyan will take on College of Saint Mary (Neb.) tomorrow in the final game of pool play. The match is scheduled for an 8 p.m. start, however the actual start time could be later due the competitive nature of this tournament.
 
 
Ramblings
 

• The Rams and Vikings have met just once before today, a closely contested 3-0 loss on Friday, September 13, 2013

 

• The Volleyball program is making its 11th appearance at the NAIA Women's Volleyball National Championship.

 

• The team has made two Runner-up finishes (1982, 1990), as well as two final four (1986, 1987) and two elite eight (2004, 2005) appearances at the national tournament.

 

• The team sponsor, The Arena sports academy, is Sioux City's new multi-sport venue and community sports project with the intent on bringing competitive youth sports to the fore-front of the Siouxland area. Jeff Carlson, a partner with The Arena and a former NAIA student-athlete, shared his vision and passion for role that sports play in the community. For more information, visit hessecarlsonarena.com and follow them on Twitter at @HessCarArena, on Facebook @hessecarlsonarena, and on Instagram @arenasportsacademy.