The Valley City State University volleyball team faced a challenging start to its 2026 season at the Siouxland Invitational, losing all four of its matches over two days. They began with a narrow three-set loss to Dordt University, followed by a four-set match against the College of Saint Mary, where they managed to take one set. On Saturday, the Vikings put forth their best effort, losing in four sets to Mount Mercy University and falling again to No. 16 Dakota Wesleyan University. Despite the losses, standout performances came from players like Mady Geist, who led the team in kills across multiple matches.

By the Numbers
  • Mady Geist recorded a total of 47 kills with a .330 hitting percentage during the tournament.
  • VCSU players combined for 66 digs in their three-set match against the College of Saint Mary.
State of Play
  • The Vikings showed improvement in offensive stats throughout the tournament, culminating in a match with a total of 52 kills against Mount Mercy.
  • The squad is set to face teams from Benedictine University Mesa and Benedictine College in their next tournament at Bellevue.
What's Next

The Vikings are gearing up for their next matches on Aug. 28-29, where they will aim to secure their first wins against competitive opponents at the Bellevue Tournament.

Bottom Line

Despite the setback at the Siouxland Invitational, the Vikings demonstrated potential in their performance, particularly through players like Mady Geist. Moving forward, they must build on their offensive coordination and capitalize on close sets to turn losses into victories in upcoming tournaments.