Graceland Falls to No. 19 Grand View in Straight Sets
DES MOINES, Iowa — Graceland University women's volleyball met a tough opponent Tuesday night, falling in straight sets to No. 19 nationally ranked Grand View University in Heart of America Athletic Conference (Heart) play at the Johnson Wellness Center. The Yellowjackets dropped the match 25-13, 25-12, 25-8.
Graceland now stands at 5-17 overall and 1-10 in Heart action. Grand View improves to 21-1 overall and remains undefeated in the conference at 11-0.
The Vikings delivered a comprehensive performance, combining offensive efficiency with consistent execution across all six skills. Grand View hit .417 as a team, while holding Graceland to a .014 percentage. The Yellowjackets managed 18 kills and 18 digs but struggled to generate momentum under pressure from Grand View's aggressive serving and structured transition play.
Ella Thomas led Graceland offensively with six kills on 14 attempts, hitting .214. Kaylee Baker added three kills and was active at the net with one solo block and three block assists. Grace Jensen contributed four kills, two service aces, and four digs.
The Vikings' attack was paced by Mariana de Carvalho, who recorded 13 kills while hitting .526. Vitoria Campos Mello followed with nine kills and three block assists. Juliana Neves anchored the offense with 31 assists and added a block assist.
Despite early leads in the opening and third sets, Graceland was unable to maintain scoring runs. Grand View responded with high-pressure serving — including 12 aces as a team, four from Maiah Kalima-Izumi — and a structured defense that limited Graceland's opportunities in transition.
Graceland head coach Stew McDole acknowledged the Vikings' quality and execution:
"Grand View is the best we've seen all season. A complete team with veteran players. Serve, pass, set, attack, block, and dig. They do it all well. They deserve their number one ranking in the Heart."
Grand View's defense produced 10 block assists and 28 digs, limiting any sustained offensive rhythm for the Yellowjackets. In contrast, Graceland's attack stalled in the third set, posting a -.150 hitting percentage with more errors (7) than kills (4).
Thomas and Baker provided key scoring contributions, and Shaeniah La Fountain and Kariana Hernandez Cruz each tallied multiple digs in support. However, Graceland was unable to convert first-ball opportunities into consistent point runs.
The Yellowjackets continue their Heart schedule later this week with a chance to bounce back on the road.
Graceland returns to action on Friday, October 10, at 6:00 p.m. CDT, when the Yellowjackets travel to face Baker University. The match will be played at the Collins Center in Baldwin City, Kansas.
For more information on Graceland women's volleyball and all of Graceland athletics, visit GUjackets.com.