BOX SCORE

SIOUX FALLS, S.D. – No. 2 Minnesota Duluth took down No. 21 Augustana volleyball in straight sets Friday night in the Elmen Center with scores of 25-22, 25-22, and 25-21 in the top-25 Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference matchup.

With the loss, the Vikings dropped to 10-3 (3-2 in the NSIC), while the Bulldogs improved to 12-1 (5-0 in the NSIC).

Courtney Ysker led Augustana with nine kills. The senior is only 31 kills away from joining the 1,000-kill club.

Sophomore Bailey Koch followed Ysker's performance with eight kills, while Ashley Wilson added seven.

Setter Marissa Johnson recorded her ninth double-double of the season with 18 assists and 13 digs.

Tahlyr Banks tallied a team-best 15 kills for the Vikings.

In the first set, Augustana jumped out to an early 5-2 lead. UMD responded and ran off four straight points to tie the set at eight apiece. Minnesota Duluth went on a five-point run late in the set to take a 22-17 lead. The Bulldogs held on to take the first set 25-22, and a 1-0 lead in the match.

UMD started the second set with another early run to lead 6-3. Two back-to-back kills from Koch and Wilson put the Vikings up 8-7, their first lead of the night. Another Kill from Koch forced Minnesota Duluth to take a timeout to regain its composure with Augustana leading 15-12. The Bulldogs found it coming out of the timeout, tying the match up at 16 all. UMD took six of the last eight points to close out the second set with a 25-22 victory, and a 2-0 advantage in the match.

It was all Minnesota Duluth in the third set, starting off with a 6-1 run to put the Vikings in trouble early. Augustana retaliated by coming within three points late in the set, but it was not enough in the end as the Bulldogs took the set 25-21, giving them the 3-0 sweep over the Vikings.

Augustana continues conference play on Saturday against St. Cloud State at the Elmen Center. Start time is scheduled for 5:30 p.m. 

---GoAugie.com---