SIOUX FALLS, S.D. - Augustana volleyball (18-11) fell to Southwest Minnesota State University (25-4) Wednesday night in the first round of the 2015 Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference volleyball tournament 25-21, 25-21, 19-25, 17-25 and 10-15.

The Vikings jumped out to an early two sets to none lead over the second ranked team in the country. In the first-set Augustana held SMSU to just a .114 hitting percentage while enjoying a .286 hitting percentage. Set-two saw much of the same as the Vikings had their highest hitting percentage of the night at .366.

Redshirt freshman Lauren Waite had an impressive night for the Vikings, earning a team-high 16 kills. Waite earned seven of those in the second set alone, helping the Vikings to a second-set victory.

Augustana controlled the net early in the match getting five blocks in the first-set and two in the second. After not recording a block in set-three, they recorded another five in the fourth-set for a grand total of 12 in the match. This was the third time this season that Augustana has earned at least 12 blocks in a match.  

Ashley Wilson joined Waite this evening in recording double-digit kills. Wilson had 12 on the night. Dani Magdzas added nine to the team's 58.

Tahlyr Banks led the way defensively for Augustana with 25 digs. Banks was followed by Brittany Cech who had 13 and Ivy Pearson who had 12.

Once against the Vikings had a solid one-two combo at the setter position. Alex Benker led the team with 33 assists while Anna Sykora had 22.

Helping Augustana earn their 12 team blocks was Kelsey Kaufmann and Wilson who tied for the team lead with six total blocks each. Cech added another four total blocks.

Augustana closes out the 2015 season with an 18-11 overall record and an 11-9 NSIC record. They will be back in action in 2016 when they start spring practice.