BOX SCORE
WINONA, Minn. - Augustana struggled to find rhythm Saturday afternoon, hitting .146 to drop to Winona State 3-1 (25-15, 17-25, 25-12, 25-19) in Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference volleyball.
The Vikings are now 6-4 (0-2 NSIC) in their conference-opening weekend. WSU improves to 7-4 (2-1 NSIC).
Jordan Spatenka led Augustana's offense with 11 kills.
Courtney Ysker was also in double-digit kills with 10.
Kayla Wallerich had 34 assists and leading the team in digs was Christina Bielski with 20.
Augustana held a 13-9 advantage in the opening set when
Holly Hafemeyer recorded a kill, but WSU went on a 12-point run to put the Vikings behind 21-13. A kill from Ysker and a Warrior service error gave the Vikings just two more points in the set.
Augustana got off on the right foot in the next set, taking the lead for good at 8-7 off a kill from
Taylor Hrdlichka. The Vikings were up 20-14 when Ysker had three kills and Wallerich added another with a WSU attack error to put Augustana within one point of taking the set.
Brooke Lewko's kill finished off the Warriors 25-17.
When Augustana held a 6-5 advantage in the third set, WSU won 10 of the next 12 points to steal a 15-8 lead. Augustana never recovered from the deficit and lost the set 25-12.
It was four points into the final set before Spatenka smashed a kill to put the Vikings on the scoreboard. Despite trailing the Warriors, Augustana continued to apply pressure and went on a four-point run to tie the score 10-10. The Vikings won two straight points at 11-11, but it was their last lead of the game as WSU ran away with the set 25-19.
WSU hit .256 in the afternoon and had four in double-digit kills.
Augustana returns home next Friday and Saturday for the first time in 2011, hosting U-Mary (7 p.m.) and Northern State (3 p.m.).
