BEMIDJI, Minn. – The No. 7 Augustana volleyball team traveled to Bemidji State Friday night and earned a hard fought 25-22, 25-20, 20-25, 25-15 victory over the Beavers. The Vikings improved to 21-4 overall and 12-3 in the NSIC.
 
Augustana and Bemidji State (7-17, 3-12 NSIC) played a close first set with neither team being able to take a lead larger than three points. The two teams stayed within three points of each other until late in the set when the Vikings were able to make the score 17-13. After Augustana found their rhythm in the set they extended their lead to six at 20-14. But once again Bemidji State was able to get within three at 20-17. The Beavers made it 23-22 until Augustana scored two straight points to take the set 25-22.
 
The Vikings found themselves in a quick 5-2 hole to start the second set and battled to tie the set at nine. A small run by the Beavers put the Vikings in another deficit at 11-9 until the Vikings were able to earn their first lead of the set at 12-11. Augustana used an 8-0 run to grab a 17-11 lead. Bemidji State didn't go away though as they cut the lead to three at 23-20. Augustana got the final two points of the set to take the set 25-20.
 
After two hard fought wins in the first two sets, Bemidji State came out firing in set three. The Vikings fell behind early but after the Vikings cut the deficit to 8-7, BSU went on an 8-3 run to make it 16-10. The Beavers held on to win the set 25-20.
 
Augustana was not going to be denied the match on Friday and it showed in the fourth set. Augustana quickly jumped on to a 13-6 lead on the back of a 12-3 run. After the two teams traded points to make it 19-12, the Vikings closed the match on a 6-3 run to win 25-15.
 
Viking of the Match
Lauren Waite was great for the Vikings on Friday with a season-high 14 kills against Bemidji State. This was her second straight match setting a season-high in kills. She led the team in points with 15.5 and added four digs and two blocks to her totals
 
Viking Notables
• Augustana improved to 21-3 all-time against Bemidji State and 6-1 on the road
• The Vikings have won the last nine matchups against the Beavers
• Anna Sykora reached at least 50 assists for the eighth time this season
• Sykora moved into 10th on the career assists list with 1,806 at Augustana. She passed Jenna Lago who had 1,178 between 2004-07
• Sykora recorded her 12th double-double of the season after leading the Vikings in digs. She had 51 assists and 17 digs
• Brittany Cech earned her seventh double-double of the year with 10 kills and 15 digs
• With her 14 kills tonight, Courtney Place surpassed 300 kills for the year. She is currently at 305
• Four Vikings reached double-digit kills: Waite (14), Courtney Place (14), Bailey Koch (13) and Cech (10)
 
Up Next
Augustana will travel to Crookston, Minn. to take on the Golden Eagles tomorrow afternoon. First Serve is scheduled for 4 p.m.