Box Score
Behind their best hitting night of the season, the Augustana volleyball team swept Minnesota State University Moorhead 27-25, 25-23, 25-18 Friday night in Moorhead, Minn.
The 22nd-ranked Vikings improved to 14-6 on the season and 7-1 in the Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference. MSU Moorhead slipped to 9-11 overall and 3-5 in the NSIC.
Not much separated Augie and MSUM. Augustana pounded 47 kills while MSU Moorhead had 46. But the difference was Augie had 9 errors compared to 14 for the Dragons. Augustana finished the night with a season-best .330 attack percentage while MSUM hit a respectable .254.
The first set was extremely close, featuring 10 ties, including 8 after the teams were tied 14-14. The host Dragons led early 5-2 but that proved to be the largest lead of the set. Late in the set, the Vikings had set points at 24-23 and 25-24 but could not convert. However,
Beth Talcott and
Kati Newgard had back-to-back kills to finish off the set.
In the set, Augustana had 21 kills and just 2 errors for a .432 attack percentage. MSUM wasn't far behind with 18 kills and 1 error for a .386 attack percentage.
The Vikings needed to rally in the second set. After the Dragons grabbed a 12-7 lead, Augustana went on a 10-3 run to take a 17-15 lead. The score would be tied six times after that before
Ellen Andrews and Talcott pounded kills to end the set.
Augustana used that momentum in the third set. After trailing 8-5, the Vikings rallied to tie the score at 9-9. The score remained close until, with the Vikings leading 17-15, Augustana closed out the set with an 8-3 outburst.
Cayla Schroeder led three Vikings in double figures in kills with 12. Andrews and Talcott each had 11. Schroder recorded a double-double as she also tallied 13 digs, sharing team-high honors with
Jenna Hultgren.
Brianna Erickson joined them in double digits with 10.
Lisa Hoegh chipped in with 40 assists.
Augustana concludes its weekend road trip with a Saturday contest at Minnesota, Crookston.
