V-Hawks survive five-set challenge

SOUTH BEND, Ind. -- The V-Hawks traveled to South Bend on Wednesday night to face off in another conference battle. The V-Hawks took on the Titans of Indiana South Bend and defeated them in a five-set thriller. The V-Hawks improve to 21-6 overall and 15-0 in conference play. 

The V-Hawks were led by Jada Mitchell's impressive 17 kills through five sets. Closely behind Mitchell was Izzy Jahr with 16 kills. Defensively, Resse Germann put on a masterclass with 30 digs in the back court. At the net, Jalen Hinzman picked up four blocks. At the setter position, Maddie Connor led the team with 29 assists. 

HOW IT HAPPENED

• The Titans scored the first points of the game, and the V-Hawks went down early 7-2, despite a kill from Jada Mitchell early on. Back-to-back kills by Izzy Jahr brought the team back within three, but they remained down to IUSB at 14-7. A kill by Casey Frankland and a kill from Izzy Jahr helped the V-Hawks claw their way back in. The V-Hawks were down 18-13 when they went on a three point run with an ace by Makenna Rettler. The team finally took the lead on a kill by Jada Mitchell to go up 22-21. A kill by Izzy Jahr and a kill by Jalen Hinzman kept the V-Hawks alive and the score got tied up at 25-25 on a MaKena Ihle kill. The V-Hawks pulled ahead at the very end and won the set 29-27. 
• In set two, MaKena Ihle and Sadie Treptow earned the first two points for the V-Hawks. An early 3-0 run with an ace by Resse Germann put the V-Hawks up at 7-4. In the middle of the set, the V-Hawks were able to put together an 8-1 run with three kills from Casey Frankland to take the 17-9 lead. Five straight points closed the set in favor of the V-Hawks with kills by Sadie Treptow, Jalen Hinzman, and a pair of kills from Izzy Jahr. 
• The V-Hawks scored the first point of the third set on a kill from Jada Mitchell. In the middle of the set, the V-Hawks went on a 7-2 run with an ace from Makenna Rettler as well as kills from Jada Mitchell and Maddie Connor. The V-Hawks were up late in the set 18-12 when the Titans began to fight back. The Titans put together a 6-0 run to tie the score at 18-18. The V-Hawks took the lead back at 22-20, but a 5-1 run closed the set for the Titans, and they won the third 25-23. 
• In the fourth set, the Titans took over early, going up 5-1. The V-Hawks would remain down through the entirety of the set. The V-Hawks attempted to fight back in the middle when Grace Check earned two service aces back-to-back. The V-Hawks brought the set within a point on a kill from Jada Mitchell. On a kill by Casey Frankland, the V-Hawks were able tot ie the score up at 17-17. At 18-18, the Titans strung together a 5-0 run as the V-Hawks went down 23-18. A service ace by Maddie Connor fought to keep the V-Hawks alive, but the Titans closed out the set with another 25-23 victory. 
• In a decisive fifth set, the V-Hawks got to work early. Casey Frankland, Sadie Treptow, and Jada Mitchell each earned a kill for a 3-0 V-Hawk run. Another 3-0 run in the middle of the set put the V-Hawks up 8-4 at the side change. The Titans fought back to bring the set back within a point at 10-9, but the V-Hawks fought them off with back-to-back kills from MaKena Ihle to go up 12-9. The Titans fought back again to bring the score to 13-12 in favor of the V-Hawks, but an error for the Titans and a kill from Sadie Treptow closed the match with a 15-12 victory. 

UP NEXT 

The V-Hawks will begin a streak of home games. They play Indiana Northwest on Saturday with first serve at 1pm. The game is also their senior day, and the seniors will be recognized for their hard work and achievements.