BOX SCORE
SIOUX FALLS, S.D. - Jordan Spatenka paced the Augustana offense with 16 kills to help the Vikings earn a 3-1 (25-9, 25-14, 22-25, 26-24) Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference victory over Bemidji State Friday night in Sioux Falls, S.D.
Augustana jumps to 9-6 (5-1 NSIC). BSU drops to 8-7 (2-5 NSIC).
Lindsey Peterson was also in double figure kills with 12.
Dani Haley passed out 41 assists in the match, while Grace Sanders tallied 27 digs.
Offensively, the Beavers struggled throughout the first set. The Vikings held BSU to a -.030 attack percentage, while Augustana racked up 17 kills to record a .279 attack percentage. With a knot in the score at 3-3, Augustana went on a six point run behind the serve of Christine Bielski. Bielski earned two of those points off a service aces. The Vikings continued to roll through the set and at 18-9, Kayla Wallerich served eight straight points to close the set out 25-9.
The Beavers tried to regain composure in the following set, firing an ace to win the first point but it wouldn't be enough. BSU still wasn't able to pull it together offensively and suffered an attack percentage of -.091. The only tie in the set came at 2-2 from which Augustana was able to win the point off an attack error from BSU and ran away with the set.
Augustana continued to dominate the Beavers during the beginning of the third set, topping BSU by a score of 16-8. A feisty BSU then won eight straight points to put a tie in the score at 16-16. The Beavers would go on and gain strength offensively, pulling out five kills under pressure after a 20-20 tie. The Vikings recorded two kills after the tie but would go on to fall 22-25.
The Vikings entered the fourth set in charge and had a 8-3 lead before a fire alarm went off in the Elmen Center, halting play for 22 minutes while the gym evacuated. When the match resumed, BSU was able to catch up to the Vikings and eventually surpassed them at 22-21. The Beavers had a set point at 24-22 but a kill by Brooke Lewko kept Augustana in the match. Peterson then recorded two kills to gain a 25-24 lead. The Vikings won the last point of the set off an attack error by BSU.
Action for the Vikings will continue at home tomorrow at 4 p.m. with another NSIC match against No. 1 Minnesota Duluth.
