15th-ranked Viterbo’s season ends a sweep away from Elite Eight

The 15th-ranked Viterbo University women’s volleyball team needed a sweep against No. 7 Southern Oregon on Friday to guarantee a spot in the NAIA Elite Eight.

Things worked out the complete opposite way, though, as the V-Hawks fell 3-0 (25-21, 27-25, 25-15) and were eliminated in pool play by S. Oregon (32-6).

Viterbo ends its season 26-11. This was the 11th consecutive season the V-Hawks made it to the NAIA tournament final site, which requires winning the opening round.

Viterbo has been to the Final Four six times in the past 10 seasons, including last year.

To begin this season, things looked challenging for the V-Hawks. They started 1-5, before beginning to turn things around.

They went 5-2 in their next seven to pull within a game of .500 before winning 20 of their final 22 games — including 12 in a row — heading into pool play.