BOX SCORE ANCHORAGE, Alaska – Augustana opened the 2013 volleyball season with a commanding sweep over Claflin (S.C.) in their first match of the SpringHill Suites Invitational on Friday afternoon. The Vikings' 25-12, 25-14, 25-17 win over the Panthers puts them at 1-0 for the season and hands CU a loss in their season opener.
The Vikings improve their overall record to 29-8-1 in season openers and head coach
Ashley Buckley notches her third-straight season-opening win and holds a 5-1 record in opening matches.
Picking up where they left off, senior middle blockers
Holly Hafemeyer and
Taylor Hrdlichka combined for 27 kills to lead the Vikings. Hafemeyer smashed a game-high 17 kills, two more than the entire Claflin squad. Hrdlichka also reached double-digits with 10 kills.
The Vikings recorded a .309 team attack percentage while holding Claflin to a -.024 percentage on 15 kills and 17 errors. Hafemeyer swung at a .444 clip and Hrdlichka hit at an even .400.
The first set was tight through in the beginning, but Augustana broke it open with a 10-1 run and finished the set on a 16-4 run to win 25-12. Hafemeyer and Hrdlichka paced the offense with four kills apiece.
With a little momentum, the Vikings clamped down on defense for a 25-14 second-set win. Augustana forced the Panthers to a -.154 attack percentage with 11 errors. The Vikings smashed 10 kills with just two errors in the second set to take a 2-0 set lead.
Taking the offensive in the third set, Augustana drilled 18 kills in the third set and held Claflin to just three kills to take the match with a 25-17 third-set win.
Marissa Johnson dished out 13 assists in the third set to help the Vikings to their 18 kills.
Johnson finished the match with 38 assists, helping the Vikings to their .309 attack percentage.
Kayla Wallerich chipped in with a team-high 13 digs and three service aces.
Courtney Ysker added seven kills and eight digs while
Brittany Cech made her collegiate debut with a cool seven kills and five digs.
The Vikings play match two of the day against Texas A&M-Kingsville at 5 p.m. Live video can be found by clicking
HERE.
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