![[Marshall Democrat-News]](http://www.marshallnews.com/images/nameplate-small.png){kind=small}
RSS
Print
Email link
Respond to editor
Read comments (1)
 Freshmen Ivan Zlatlov (left) and Chris Carr go for a block during the Vikings' loss to Lindenwood. (Dub Clark/Special to The Democrat-News) [Click to enlarge] |
The 10th-ranked Vikings were swept over the weekend in two matches in Denver, the first time they've lost to No. 7 Johnson and Wales, then returned home Tuesday for a four-game setback at the hands of third-rated Lindenwood.
Junior Curtis Oliver knocked down 16 shots Friday as the Wildcats defeated Valley, 30-20, 30-27, 30-24. While freshman Yaniv Warenstein had 11 kills, the Vikings were kept on the defensive. Johnson and Wales had 112 attack attempts, compared to 80 for the Vikings.
That resulted in a nearly two-to-one disparity in digs, Valley favored, 94-49 -- freshman libero Patrick Pinto coming up with 31 of them. Yet, the Vikings, who went into the season looking for a middle blocker, only had three block assists.
Much of the same occurred Saturday during Valley's 30-19, 30-28, 30-23 loss to the Wildcats (3-3, 2-0 MAMVIC West): 118 total digs in three games, 35 by Warenstein -- who also led the club with 14 kills. Pinto and senior Jarrett Fujita each made 27 saves.
The Vikings had to scramble to win one set against Lindenwood during a 30-21, 30-23, 31-33, 30-22 loss. The third game was the only one in which Valley's attack efficiency rose above .200, at .321 percent.
Freshman Vladi Frenc made a nice debut for the Vikings with 17 kills and three aces. Sophomore Daumier Magewski had eight spikes and got in on three blocks and freshmen Mike Robbins and Jedson Barbosa combined for 45 of the team's 47 sets.
The Lions (7-1, 1-1) were led by senior Joe Deimeke and Prince Wilson with 14 kills apiece.
It gets no easier for Valley (2-7, 0-3), which Friday will host defending league champion and second-ranked Park.
Note: The nature of the Internet makes it impractical for our staff to review every comment. If you feel that a comment is offensive, please
I feel that this team has a lot of talent that is just not being brought out of them, and you must remember that this team does not have a key starter from previous years in Adam Tuifagu. There are a lot of freshman and the roster for this team has changed over the course of 5 years soo much its almost like a roulette wheel. The people that are there are capable of beating teams like lindenwood they just need to be COACHED!! I feel that Missouri Valley's choice of head coach for their men's program is a bit skeptical. When the guys had no preseason and were only able to touch a volleyball during open gyms or nice days at the park or even on mondays at the YMCA, you cannot expect them to compete on a level with the likes of lindewood or MOBAP teams that have preseasons and COACHES