Box Score
The Augustana volleyball team dropped its second-straight match this weekend, falling in four sets at Minnesota State University, Mankato Saturday in Mankato, Minn. Set scores were 25-22, 26-28, 25-15, 25-21.
The 20th-ranked Vikings slipped to 18-8 overall and 10-3 in the Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference, while Minnesota State improved to 14-11 overall and 9-5 in the NSIC.
Augustana's offense, which was strong during a recent eight-match winning streak, struggled on Saturday as the Vikings managed to hit only .124. The Vikings had 50 kills but 27 errors.
Minnesota State grabbed the early momentum by capturing the opening set. Augustana got off to a good start by winning the first 5 points of the set before MSU settled down to tie the score at 11-11. Later in the set the score was tied 19-19, MSU scored three unanswered points to lead 22-19. Augustana closed within one at 23-22, but the Mavericks scored the final two points to take a 1-0 lead.
Augustana bounced back by winning a tight second set. The Vikings had two set points after leading 24-22, but MSU scored two points in a row to tie the score at 24-24. The Mavericks then had two set points that the Vikings fought off before
Cayla Schroeder and
Kati Newgard each pounded kills to close out the set 28-26.
Minnesota took control of the third set midway through the set. Leading 11-10, the Mavericks went on a 7-0 run to take an 18-10 lead as they then coasted to a 25-15 win.
A similar run late in the fourth set gave MSU some breathing room. Leading 16-15, the Mavericks scored four straight points to open up a 20-15 edge. Augustana made a late charge, closing to 23-21, but Kimber Kuhl hit two kills to end the match.
Beth Talcott led Augustana with 17 kills and 13 digs. Newgard joined her in double figures in kills with 10. Schroeder, the Vikings' leading hitter, managed just 6 kills, but she did record a match-high 21 digs.
Jenna Hultgren added 17 kills.
Lisa Hoegh just missed a double-double with 46 assists and 9 digs.
Augustana returns home next weeked for a pair of NSIC matches. On Friday, the Vikings entertain top-ranked and defending national champion Concordia-St. Paul at 7 p.m. before hosting St. Cloud State on Saturday at 4 p.m. Both matches will be played in the Elmen Center.
