Box Score
The Augustana volleyball team lost its first conference contest in three sets on Tuesday to Minnesota State at the Taylor Center in Mankato, Minn. The Vikings fell 25-17, 25-12, 25-18.
The loss drops the Vikings to 5-8 on the season and 0-1 in conference play while Minnesota State improves to 11-2 overall and 1-0 in the NSIC.
The Vikings started the match by gaining a lead in the first set, before a hitting error by senior outside
Jenna Hultgren allowed the Mavericks to tie the score at 14-14. Minnesota State then served four points in a row to make the score 18-14. Dismal hitting by the Vikings prevented them from mounting a comeback as they hit zero percent in the first set with five kills and five errors on 32 attempts.
The Mavericks took a lead in the second set, but a kill by senior middle
Blythe Johnson tied the score at 8-8. The Vikings would only score four more points in the set as Minnesota State's Kelly Sandstorm served four straight points to end the set 25-12.
Augie fell behind in the third set when a kill by Minnesota State's Kimber Kuhl made the score 9-4. The Vikings would never make up the deficit and lost the final set 25-18.
Johnson and freshman outside
Megan Bezdicek led the Vikings with six kills each. Freshman libero
Grace Sanders added 14 digs and sophomore
Melanie Twait contributed seven.
The Vikings will be back in action this weekend with a match against the University of Mary on Friday at 7 p.m. at the Elmen Center. Augie will take on in-state rival Northern State on Saturday at 4 p.m.
