BOX SCORE BOX SCORE SIOUX FALLS, S.D. – The Augustana volleyball team wrapped up the Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference Challenge with a straight-set victory against South Dakota School of Mines on Saturday afternoon with scores of 25-19, 25-19, 25-15.
The Vikings closed out the NSIC Challenge 4-0 for a second year in a row.Augustana finished non-conference play with an overall record of 7-1. The Vikings begin conference play on Tuesday against Wayne State.
Courtney Ysker, for the second time on Saturday, led Augustana in kills with 13. Ysker now remains 106 kills from joining the 1,000-kill club. The senior had 54 kills during the two-day tournament.
Ashley Wilson followed Ysker's performance with 11 kills.
Anna Sykora played a key role for the Vikings, tallying a team-best 25 assists that went with seven digs.
Marissa Johnson added 20 assists, upping her total to 108 for the tournament.
Augustana served seven aces, while the Hardrockers only recorded one in the match.
The Vikings and South Dakota School of Mines came out in set one neck-in-neck. Between both squads, there was seven different lead changes.
Sydney Hunsley gave Augustana the lead with back-to-back kills, which allowed the Vikings to take set one 25-19. Ysker led the team with six kills in the set.
In the second set, Augustana started off dead even with the Hardrockers, but a three-point gain from Augustana forced South Dakota School of Mines to take a timeout and try to regain focus. Three final kills by Wilson and Ysker gave the Vikings the second-set victory 25-19.
The Hardrockers kept fighting as they went on a 6-1 run early in the third set, forcing Augustana to take a timeout. The Vikings responded with poise and game control. Wilson closed out the set with a kill, winning 25-15, and taking the match in three sets for the second time on Saturday.
Augustana will open conference play on Tuesday, Sept. 16 against Wayne State at the Elmen Center. Start time is scheduled for 7 p.m.
Following the conference opener against Wayne State, the Vikings take to the road to face Minnesota Crookston on Sept. 19 and Bemidji State on Sept.20.
---GoAugie.com---
