[Men's Volleyball] Vikings Win First Ever National Invitational Title

Des Moines, Iowa – |  |  |  Grand View defeated Benedictine Mesa 3-1 (25-23, 25-21, 22-25, 25-17) to win their first-ever Men's Volleyball National Invitational title. The Vikings went 4-1 in the National Invitational with their only loss coming from Benedictine Mesa in the second round of pool play on Wednesday night.

Playing on their home court in the Charles S. Johnson Wellness Center, Grand View took a 2-0 lead in the match defeating Benedictine Mesa in a close 25-23 first set and then 25-21 in the second set. The Vikings lost the third set pushing the match into a fourth set where Grand View finished the match with a 25-17 victory and earned the National Title.

Set One: Grand View University 25 | Benedictine Mesa 23

Grand View started slow falling to an 8-3 deficit, but then turned it around and went on a six-point run to tie the game. From that point, Grand View took over the lead and slowly stretched the gap to 23-17. The Vikings were held at match point while the Redhawks scored four points in a row to make the game 24-23, but Grand View then finished the set 25-23. The Vikings recorded ten team kills while the Redhawks recorded 14 team kills.

Set Two: Grand View University 25 | Benedictine Mesa 21

The Vikings and the Redhawks fought for control with 17 different scoring ties. Late in the game, while Grand View was at match point, a few attacking errors allowed Benedictine to catch up but Felix Chapman (SO/San Jose De Las Lajas, Cuba) finished the set with a kill. The Vikings earned 11 team kills for a .286 hitting percentage and the Redhawks recorded 12 team kills and a .138 hitting percentage.

Set Three: Grand View University 22 | Benedictine Mesa 25

Grand View trailed Benedictine Mesa through the majority of the set. The Vikings closed the gap, but the Redhawks went on a 4-2 run and finished the set pushing the game into a fourth set. Both teams each recorded 17 team kills.

Set Four: Grand View University 25 | Benedictine Mesa 17

The Vikings jumped out of the gates in the fourth set taking an early lead over the Redhawks. Grand View maintained that lead and finished the game with an eight-point victory. Grand View earned 12 team kills and a .417 hitting percentage while the Redhawks recorded ten kills and a .063 hitting percentage.

Players of Notice…

Tim Johnson Jr. (SR/Chicago, IL) led the Grand View offense with 17 kills and a .571 hitting percentage. This was the most individual kills on both teams. The Vikings defense was led by John Chamone (SO/Miami Beach, FL), Alfredo Batista (SR/Bayamon, Puerto Rico), and Felix Chapman with eight digs a piece. Batista also had 40 assists on the night.

Awards

2018 Sportsman of the Year Award – Jesus Izaguirre, Benedictine Mesa

National Invitational Most Valuable Player – Felix Chapman, Grand View

National Invitational Coach of the Year – Donan Cruz, Grand View

All-Tournament Team

Jeff Lam – Lourdes (Ohio)

Kyle Foley – Missouri Baptist

Logan Adcock – Benedictine Mesa

Jaron Jones – Benedictine Mesa

Tim JohnsonJr. – Grand View