BOX SCORE BOX SCORE SIOUX FALLS S.D. – The Augustana volleyball team pushed its winning streak to five in a five-set win over Missouri Western State in its second game on of the Northern Sun Intercolligate Conference Challenge on Friday at the Elmen Center, defeating the Griffons 3-2.
The Vikings improved their record to 5-1 with the win, while MWSU fell to 4-2.
Ashley Wilson turned in her best performance of her young Augustana career. The Sioux Falls, S.D. native smashed a career-best 18 kills, tying the most by a Viking player this season. The freshmen's kills came as a result of smart play and well-placed attacks, resulting in an incredible .552 (18-2-29) attack percentage.
Courtney Ysker followed Wilson's stellar performance with her own, picking up her fourth double-double of the season with 17 kills and 12 digs.
Marissa Johnson racked up her second double-double of the day with 36 assists and 13 digs.
Brittany Cech chipped in with 12 kills and nine digs.
Tahlyr Banks continued to showcase her defensive abilities with 20 digs for Augustana in the win, part of a team-total 70 digs.
Missouri Western State came out hot in the first set, taking it 25-19 and giving the Griffons a 1-0 lead in the match. Wilson kept the Vikings in the set with 10 kills.
In the second set, Augustana jumped out to an early 2-0 start and never looked back, tying the match up 1-1 after winning the set 25-16.
The Griffons responded by racing out to an 11-4 advantage to start the third set. The Vikings would cut it within four, but with two back-to-back kills from MWSU, they would ultimately drop the third set 25-19.
Missouri Western State would start the fourth set off quick with an early 4-1 lead. Both teams battled hard, as evidenced by the 14 different lead changes. Augustana's
Becca Finley finally closed out the set with a kill that gave the Vikings a 25-23 win.
With the match tied 2-2, Augustana headed into the fifth set for the first time all season. Holding an early 3-0 lead, The Vikings kicked their game into overdrive from there, cruising past the Griffons to go on and win the set 15-11. Ysker was the big star for Augustana in the set, totaling five of the Vikings' 15 points.
Augustana opens the second and final day of the NSIC Challenge with Fort Hays State at 11:30 a.m. Then the Vikings will close out the tournament playing South Dakota School of Mines and Technology at 4:30 p.m. Both games will be at the Elmen Center.
---GoAugie.com---
