WATERTOWN, S.D. -- Second-ranked and top-seeded Viterbo University overcame a 2-1 deficit to record a 3-2 (25-21, 23-25, 24-26, 25-21, 15-7) victory over second-seeded Bellevue University in the championship match of the North Star Athletic Association Tournament Saturday afternoon at the Watertown Civic Arena.
With the win, Viterbo earned an automatic berth into the NAIA National Tournament, improving to 37-1 on the season and extending its winning streak to 30 matches. Bellevue fell to 23-7 on the season and will await its postseason fate when pairings for the National Championship Opening Round are announced on Monday, Nov. 15 at 10 a.m. on Facebook Live.
Sierra Athen, Haley Fleischman, and Jacki Apel all finished with 13 kills to lead the BU offense.
Athen recorded her ninth double-double of the season, adding 21 digs along with four blocks in the loss.
Fleischman hit .462 in the match with just one error in 26 swings. She added a match-high five blocks.
Olivia Galas recorded her 10th double-double of the season, finishing with 44 assists and 13 digs along with five kills and a pair of blocks.
Taylan Keefer tied Athen with a team-high 21 digs while Eve Fountain added 16 digs as BU held an 89-84 advantage in total digs.
Maya Roberts led all players with 20 kills on .348 hitting along with four blocks. NSAA Player of the Year Miah Garant finished with 11 kills and three blocks and Katie Frohmader added 10 kills, three digs, and a pair of blocks.
The championship by the V-Hawks marked their seventh-straight NSAA Tournament title.
