SIOUX FALLS, S.D. - No. 20 Augustana volleyball (13-4, 6-3 NSIC) was on the right-side of the score for the second match in a row, as they ended the weekend with a sweep of Bemidji State 25-7, 25-15, 25-23.
Augustana jumped on the Beavers (13-4, 6-3 NSIC) in set-one by grabbing a 6-0 lead that forced Bemidji State to call a timeout. With no lead changes or ties in the first set the closest Bemidji State got the score was 13-6. The Vikings would go on a 7-0 run and 5-0 run to close out the first-set 25-7.
Sets two and three were closer in terms of score. Bemidji State grabbed their first lead of the match 3-1 before the Vikings used four quick points to take, and hold onto, the lead 6-3. After trading points early in set-three to a 7-7 tie, Augustana was able to go on a few mini runs to keep distance between them and the Beavers and eventually close out the set, and the match, 25-23.
Augustana was led by todays player of the game, sophomore
Ashley Wilson. Wilson filled up the stat sheet against the Beavers with nine kills, three services aces and seven total blocks.
Wilson and redshirt freshman
Lauren Waite tied for the team high in kills with nine against Bemidji State. Junior
Becca Finley added eight kills of her own. Augustana had 43 kills in the match.
Sophomore
Alex Banker led the way in assists for Augustana with 16 followed closely by junior
Anna Sykora who had 14. Senior
Marissa Johnson had nine assists of the team's 41.
There was a tie atop the Viking leader board for digs against Bemidji State. Junior
Brittany Cech and sophomore
Tahlyr Banks each had 11 digs while Waite added four. The Vikings had 41 digs as a team.
Augustana had a big match at the net this afternoon. What was supposed to be a strength coming into this season, has struggled to get off the ground. The Vikings had a season high, nine total blocks. Augustana was led by Wilson who had a season-high seven total blocks. Waite added four while Finley had two.
The Vikings had nine service aces a team Saturday afternoon. Wilson had a team and season-high with three. Sophomore
Alex Banker and Sykora had two and one respectively.
Augustana will be back in action next weekend as the hit the road to take on No. 1 Minnesota Duluth and St. Cloud State. The match in Duluth is set the begin at 7 p.m. on Friday followed by a 4 p.m. start on Saturday at St. Cloud.
