BOX SCORE
MINOT N.D. - Augustana improved bounced back from a loss with an exciting sweep of Minot State (12-17, 7-12 NSIC) on the road Friday night. The Vikings (21-7, 13-6 NSIC) staved off a second-set charge by the Beavers and came from behind in the third to win the Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference match 25-19, 27-25, 26-24.
The Vikings used their second consecutive match, fifth overall, with double-digit blocks to hold the Beavers to a .096 (41-28-136) attack percentage. Holly Hafemeyer racked up 12 kills without an error to post a .545 attack percentage.
Courtney Ysker led all players with 14 kills and Kayla Wallerich's match-high 17 digs helped the Vikings to their strong defensive showing. Marissa Johnson posted her seventh double-double of the year with 37 assists and 14 digs. Four Vikings reached double figures in digs with Ysker earning a double-double of her own by adding 10 digs to her kill total.
The Vikings opened the match with a 25-19 win in the first set led by Hafemeyer and Ysker knocking down seven of Augustana's 10 kills. The Vikings also tallied four blocks in the first stanza to limit the Minot State offensive threat to a .068 (14-11-44) attack percentage.
In the second set, Augustana found themselves in a 24-21 hole, but the Vikings fended off three Beaver set points with a 6-1 run to take the second set 27-25. Augustana held a 19-14 lead before Minot State ripped off 10 of the next 12 points, threatening to even the match.
Brittany Cech's second set total of nine digs kept the Vikings alive and her kill sparked the final comeback. Julia Witt's ace gave the Vikings a set point of their own, up 25-24, but Minot countered with one of Lauren Dunkle's MISU-high 13 kills. Hafemeyer and Ysker drilled back-to-back kills to earn a 2-0 match lead, 27-25.
Minot State's third-set lead reached 19-13, but seven consecutive points by the Vikings gave them the momentum to win 26-24 and sweep the Beavers. MISU countered the Viking run with three straight points again putting the pressure on the Vikings, but Hafemeyer and Bailey Koch each hit a pair of kills to give the Vikings the deciding third set.
Augustana finishes their regular season on the road at U-Mary Saturday night at 6 p.m. Just one game back from Northern State in the NSIC standings, the Vikings can earn the No. 4 seed, and first-round hosting rights, in the US Bank/NSIC Tournament with a win and NSU loss. The Wolves host No. 8 Southwest Minnesota State tomorrow at 5 p.m.
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