BOX SCORE
BISMARCK, N.D. - Augustana continued its undefeated streak against the University of Mary and clinched the No. 4 seed and first-round hosting rights in the US Bank/NSIC Tournament with a sweep on Saturday night. The Vikings (22-7, 14-6 NSIC) defeated the Marauders (4-23, 1-19 NSIC) in straight sets 25-17, 25-15, 25-22) led by Holly Hafemeyer's 16 kills.
The Vikings were able to capitalize on No. 22 Northern State losing at home to No. 8 Southwest Minnesota State by tying the Wolves with a 14-6 record in the Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference. Augustana holds the tiebreaker over NSU after defeating the Wolves in both matchups this season. The Vikings will now host Northern State on Wednesday, Nov. 20 at 6 p.m. in the first round of the US Bank/NSIC Tournament.
Augustana improved its unscathed record against U-Mary to 11-0 and notch their second sweep of the Marauders this season. At 22 wins, the Vikings are one victory shy of matching head coach Ashley Buckley's career-best 23 wins which she set in her first season at Augustana in 2008 -- the Vikings finished 23-11 under Buckley who is now in her sixth season.
Hafemeyer again led the Augustana offensive with 16 kills and just one error to record a .536 attack percentage. Bailey Koch earned her fourth start of the year and racked up 11 kills with just one error. As a team, the Vikings swung at a .358 (49-10-109) clip despite the Marauders tallying seven blocks in three sets. Marissa Johnson directed the offense with 45 assists for a 15.0 assist per set average.
The Vikings built a six-point lead on the back of two 4-0 runs and took the first set 25-17. Five Vikings recorded multiple kills in the first stanza to fend off the U-Mary attack which hit .321.
In the second set, Hafemeyer drilled seven error-free kills and the Vikings hit .415 (19-2-41) on their way to a 25-15 win. Augustana scooped up 16 digs in set two, led by Kayla Wallerich's five -- the senior libero finished with a team-high 10 digs on the night.
Augustana trailed 18-14 in the third set, but the Vikings closed on an 11-4 run to win 25-22. Koch and Hafemeyer each picked up three kills to fuel the Augustana run and the two front-row players finished with 11 in the deciding third set.
As the No. 4 seed in the US Bank/NSIC Tournament, the Vikings will host No. 22 Northern State on Wednesday, Nov. 20 at 6 p.m. in the Elmen Center. The winner will advance to the semifinals which will be held on the home court of the highest remaining seed in the tournament.
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