SIOUX FALLS, S.D. – The seventh-ranked Augustana volleyball team (26-5) lost to Winona State 25-20, 32-34, 19-25, 23-25 in the opening round of the NSIC Tournament.

In the first set Augustana took an early 5-3 lead before Winona State tied it at six. After the Vikings took the lead back at 8-7, they went on a 6-0 run to take a 14-7 lead. Winona State then went on a 4-0 run of their own to make to cut the lead to three. The Warriors would get to within two at 18-16 but Augustana closed the set on a 4-1 run to win the set 25-20.

Set to was a thriller from the start, with Augustana got an early 2-0 lead before the Warriors tie it. After the two teams traded points to make it 9-8 Augustana, the Vikings scored five of the next six points to take a 13-9 lead. Much like set one, Winona State used a long run of their own to take a 21-18 lead. Augustana did go away though, eventually tying the match at 25. The Vikings had three set point chances over the next 11 points but were unable to capitalize as Winona State took the second set 34-32.

The final two sets of the night didn't go the way Augustana would have hoped. The Warriors used a big 4-0 run in the middle of set three to break a tied match. They eventually extended their lead, and took the set 25-19. In the fourth and final set the Vikings looked poised to tie the match a two sets apiece as they owned a 23-21 lead late. The Vikings were unable to close it out as the Warriors scored the final four points, taking the set 25-23 and the match 3-1.

Viking of the Match
Lauren Waite led the Vikings in kills Wednesday night with 20. She added three blocks and one dig to her totals.
 
Viking Notables
• Waite set a career-high with 20 kills
• Brittany Cech posted 10th double-double of the season with 12 kills and 10 digs. It was her third straight match with a double-double
• Anna Sykora had 52 assists
• Four Vikings reached double-digit kills: Waite (20), Courtney Place (13), Cech (12), Bailey Koch (11)
• Four Vikings earned double-digit digs: Tahlyr Banks (23), Sophia Terwilleger (12), Sykora (12), Cech (10)
• The Vikings reached 10 blocks as a team
• Kelsey Kaufmann led the way at the net with a career-high 7 blocks

Up Next
Augustana will have to wait until Monday,November 21 at 6:30 p.m. (CT) to see if they will make the NCAA Tournament. To view this event click HERE.