Box Score
After a close first set, the Augustana Vikings rebounded to sweep Minnesota, Crookston Saturday night. Augie eeked out a 26-24 win before finishing the match 25-15 and 25-18.
The Viking now improve to 14-18 overall this season and 9-11 in conference play. The Golden Eagles fall to 6-26 and 3-17 in the Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference.
The first set was close throughout, with the teams trading points and leads. A kill by junior outside Beth Talcott gave the Vikings the 18-17 advantage, but the Golden Eagles scored five unanswered points to take a 22-18 lead. A service error by Minnesota, Crookston followed by a kill by the Golden Eagles moved the score to 23-19 and forced the Vikings to take a timeout. Augie pounded four kills in a row and then forced a Golden Eagle hitting error to take a 24-23 lead. The Golden Eagles tied the score again will a kill by Amanda Swann, but a kill from junior middle Brianna Erickson followed by a kill by senior right side Ellen Andrews ended the set.
The Vikings got off to a fast start in set two, outscoring the Golden Eagles 11-4 thanks to serving runs by Erickson and freshman setter Breanna Brandt. Minnesota, Crookston committed 10 hitting errors while only recording nine kills in the second set, making a comeback difficult. Augie pounded 13 kills to sail to the 25-15 victory.
Set four remained close until Talcott served four straight points to take a 15-8 lead. The Golden Eagles pulled to within three at 18-15 before senior outside Jenna Hultgren served three straight points to give Augie the 21-15 lead. Minnesota, Crookston called a timeout but was unable to answer the Viking attack and would only score three more points in the set.
Andrews led the team with 10 kills and Talcott and freshman right Jordan Spatenka contributed nine each.
Freshman Dani Haley had 24 assists and freshman libero Grace Sanders collected a match-high 17 digs.
The match concludes the 2009 season for the Vikings.
