BOX SCORE
SIOUX FALLS, S.D. - Augustana earned the right to host the US Bank/NSIC Tournament against Northern State twice this season, but the Wolves had the last laugh, finishing the Vikings' run in three sets. The 25-14, 25-18, 26-24 loss puts the Vikings at 22-8 on the season and moves Northern State to 22-6.
With the NCAA Central Region rankings released mid-match, the Vikings moved down to No. 8 and Northern State jumped them to No. 7. With no Great American Conference representative currently in the top eight, the Vikings would be pushed out to whoever wins the GAC tournament. Augustana is now forced to wait until the NCAA Selection Show which airs on NCAA.com at 6:30 on Monday, Nov. 25.
The Vikings' run at the US Bank/NSIC Tournament comes to a close with the Wolves moving on to play No. 1 seed Concordia-St. Paul in St. Paul this weekend. The Wolves avenged both regular-season losses to the Vikings with a sweep of their own, opening in dominating fashion.
Northern State jumped out to a one-set lead in the match with a dominating defensive performance leading to a 25-14 win. Augustana served 15 times and NSU forced a sideout on 12 of those occasions keeping the balls out of the Vikings' hands. NSU picked up 21 digs which held Augustana to a .091 (7-4-33) attack percentage with just two Vikings tallying kills.
Augustana rushed out to a 5-0 lead, but Northern State quickly stole the momentum back and put the Vikings in a 2-0 hole with a 25-18 second-set win. Holly Hafemeyer and Courtney Ysker combined for 13 kills in the set, but five blocks from the Wolves kept them in the match and eventually leading them to the win.
The Vikings seemed destined for another blowout after starting in a 6-1 deficit, but the Vikings battled back and took the lead with chances to win. Augustana had two set points, up 24-22, but Three straight Kelsey Chambers kills set the Wolves up to win 26-24.
Ysker led Augustana with 15 kills and Hafmeyer was next with 12, but no other Vikings tallied more than four. Kayla Wallerich led the defense with 17 digs and Taylor Hrdlichka had a team-high six block assists.
Augustana now waits for the NCAA Selection Show which airs on NCAA.com at 6:30 p.m. on Monday, Nov. 25.
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