Box Score
Augustana rebounded from a tough loss to No. 1 Concordia-St. Paul on Friday by sweeping St. Cloud State 25-21, 25-21, 25-22 Saturday afternoon at the Elmen Center.
The 22nd-ranked Vikings snapped a three-match losing streak in improving to 19-9 overall and 11-4 in the Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference. St. Cloud State dropped to 6-18 overall adn 4-12 in the conference.
Augustana controlled every game, but the Vikings were never able to pull away from the Huskies. In the first set, the Vikings opened up a 15-7 lead. But the Huskies steadily chipped away at the deficit and eventually pulled within 2 points, 21-19 and 22-20 before
Cayla Schroeder had 3 kills late in the set to give Augie a 25-21 win.
In the second set, the score was tied 9-9 before Augustana went on a 7-3 run to open a 16-12 lead. The Vikings maintained the lead the rest of the set but SCSU made a late surge, drawing within 23-21. However,
Blythe Johnson had a kill and SCSU's Kristen Stott hit a ball out of bounds to give the set to the Vikings.
Augustana trailed 15-14 midway through the third set before Schroeder served six consecutive points to put the Vikings ahead 20-15. The Vikings later led 24-20 but St. Cloud State saved two match points before Schroder nailed a kill to end the match.
Schroeder led all players with 13 kills and 16 digs.
Ellen Andrews was the only other player in double figures with 10 kills and just 1 error.
Rebecca Hindman narrowly missed a double-double with 9 kills and 14 digs.
Jenna Hultgren added 16 kills, while
Brianna Erickson chipped in with 11.
Augustana goes on the road next week for a pair of NSIC matches. On Friday, the Vikings play at Bemidji State at 7 p.m., before visiting Minnesota Duluth on Saturday at 4 p.m.
