Vikings Go 1-3 at Mid-America Nazarene Tournament

Olathe, Kansas ~ The Dana College Volleyball team traveled to Olathe, Kan., over the weekend to take part in the Mid-America Nazarene Volleyball Tournament.  The youthful Vikings came away with a 1-3 record.

The tournament started off on the right foot as the Vikings cruised by Johnson and Wales University from Denver, Colo.  Dana won the match 3-0 by scores of 30-19, 30-13, and 30-14.  Kali Brayfield (SO, Elkhorn, Neb.) led the Vikings with 10 kills.  Danielle Neville (FR, Grand Island, Neb.) continued to impress as she hammered home seven kills.  Nichole Elwood (SO, Fremont, Neb.) dished out 24 set assists.  Lacie Greiner (SO, Boone, Iowa) got herself into the single match record book with six aces in a three-set match.  Her total now ranks her fourth all-time in aces in a three-game match.  Neville and Casey Smith (FR, Yutan, Neb.) led the team with six defensive digs each.

Dana continued their winning ways in the first game of their match against Evangel College of Springfield, Mo.  Dana came out with a 30-24 first set win, before dropping the next three sets 9-30, 23-30, and 29-31. Brayfield once again led the Vikings with 14 kills and two solo blocks.  April Fitch (FR, Creighton, Neb.) added 11 more kills on the match. Elwood dished out 35 set assists for the match. Neville served four aces for the Vikings.  Neville and Nicole Venditte (SO, Omaha, Neb.) led Dana with 11 defensive digs. 

Day two of the tournament was not kind to the Vikings.  William Jewell College swept Dana 3-0 (17-30, 10-30, 9-30) in the first match. Fitch led all hitters with six kills.  Elwood and Stephanie Connell (FR, Harlan, Iowa) each had seven set assists.  Connell had nine digs, while Neville and Smith added eight apiece. 

Baker University also earned a 3-0 sweep over the Vikings. Neville and Brayfield each had six kills. Connell had 16 set assists. Venditte and Greiner each had seven defensive digs.  Greiner also had two solo blocks.

“We competed against well against some very strong teams,” said Dana Head Coach Rayna Cain.  “We have some kinks to straighten out, but overall it was a good weekend.”

Greiner received all-tournament honors for her performance this weekend.

Dana is now 5-11 on the season and 1-2 in GPAC play.  Dana will travel to Midland Lutheran College on Wednesday night for a JV and varsity double header.  JV will start at 6 p.m. and varsity will begin at 7:30 p.m. in Fremont.  Dana will be home on Friday, for a doubleheader against Friends University.  Game one will start at 6 p.m. and the second match will go at 8 p.m.