BOX SCORE
CROOKSTON, Minn. - Augustana was on the wrong side of a historic first-set loss to Minnesota Crookston and the Vikings fell 3-0 (37-35, 25-23, 25-19) to the Golden Eagles on Saturday afternoon. The Vikings suffer their sixth loss overall and in Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference competition, falling to 18-6 overall, 10-6 in league play. UMC improves to 13-11 overall, 8-8 in the NSIC.
The 37-35 first-set loss for the Vikings set a new NCAA Division II record and paved the way for Minnesota Crookston to set a new record themselves. Since the rally-scoring format was changed to 25 points needed to win a set in 2008, the highest total was 68 combined points (Washburn vs. Emporia State, 35-33, 2011) before Augustana and UMC combined for 72 in the first set to set a new record. UMC's 87-point total in the match is the new record for points in a three-set match since the scoring change in 2008.
Adding insult to injury, Augustana hadn't lost to the Golden Eagles in the previous 11 meetings between the programs. Saturday's three-set loss is the first for the Vikings since the two schools first played in 2003.
Augustana battled back from an early deficit, but was upended 37-35 in the first set. Augustana was in an 18-14 hole before charging back. The Vikings held off two set points from Minnesota Crookston and couldn't capitalize on 10 chances to win the set before the Golden Eagles won in the marathon first set.
Holly Hafemeyer and Courtney Ysker each tallied eight kills in the first set and finished with 18 apiece for the match. Kayla Wallerich picked up 12 digs in the first set and finished with a team-high 23 Saturday afternoon. Marissa Johnson tallied a double-double in the first set with 23 assists and 11 digs. Johnson finished with 48 assists and 17 digs -- one off a career high -- in total.
The second set was neck-and-neck throughout before UMC edge Augustana 25-23 to take a 2-0 lead in the match. The Vikings held an 18-15 lead in the second set before UMC reeled off six straight points and held onto the lead.
Minnesota Crookston raced out to an early lead and stifled the Vikings offense and won the match 25-19 in the third set. The Vikings drew within two points on three occasions, but UMC's 8-2 run to open the match proved to be too much for Augustana.
The Vikings return home for their final regular-season home matches. On Friday, Nov. 8, Augustana faces MSU Moorhead at 7 p.m. before taking on Northern State at 4 p.m. on Saturday, Nov. 9.
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