BISMARCK, N.D. – The No. 7 Augustana volleyball team traveled to the University of Mary Friday night and earned a 25-19, 25-22, 27-25 sweep of the Marauders.
 
The first set between the Vikings and Marauders was tightly contested during the early going, with the two teams alternating points to a 6-6 tie.  The Vikings scored five of the next six points to take an 11-7 lead before three points by Mary made it 12-10 Vikings. U-Mary's two-point deficit was as close at the Vikings would let them get as they took the set 25-19.
 
In set two Augustana rushed out to a 5-2 advantage but quickly saw their lead disappear after U-Mary took a 9-7 lead. After U-Mary scored eight of the next 11 points to make it 17-10 Marauders, the tables turn after a U-Mary service error. With Bailey Koch serving the Vikings began to storm back. Augustana went on a 10-0 run, that included three aces from Koch, to take a 20-17 lead. Augustana didn't look back after that, holding on to a 25-22 set two win.
 
In the third and final set, the Vikings got out to a 4-1 lead before U-Mary was able to tie it at eight all. Mary then grabbed a 10-9 advantage until the Vikings rattled off four straight to take the lead back at 13-10. Later in the set with U-Mary holding a 17-15 lead, Augustana went on a 5-1 run to take a 20-18 lead. The two teams stayed close with U-Mary holding a 24-23 lead. The Vikings took a 25-24 lead after kills by Courtney Place and Sophia Terwilleger before U-Mary tied it at 25. The Vikings would get the final two points of the match though thanks to a kill from Koch and a handling error by U-Mary to take the set 27-25 and the match, 3-0.
 
Viking of the Match
Bailey Koch had herself a night on Friday, setting a career-high in aces with five. Koch recorded 10 kills on 19 attacks while recording one dig and one block. She led the team with 15.5 points in the contest.
 
Viking Notables
• Koch's five aces are a new career-high. Her previous high was one and she did that on three different times this season
• Augustana's 23 wins this season is the team's best mark since winning 23 back in 2008
• The Vikings have won 5-straight matches
• Augustana is now 15-0 all-time against U-Mary and 6-0 when the match is played in Bismarck
• This was the Vikings 14th straight sweep over U-Mary. The last time Augustana lost a set to the Marauders was back in 1990
• This is the second time this season that a Viking has reached five aces in a match. Ashley Wilson had five against Michigan Tech back on Sept. 3
• Place had a team-high 12 kills
• Terwilliger set a career-high in kills with five. She was third on the team in total kills
• Anna Sykora lead all players with 34 assists
• Tahlyr Banks led everyone with 15 digs
• This was head coach Dan Meske's 25th career NSIC victory
 
Up Next
Augustana will head to Minot State to take on the Beavers tomorrow night at 6 p.m.