MOORHEAD, Minn. – No. 14 Augustana volleyball (12-1, 5-0 NSIC) remained perfect in the Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference Saturday afternoon after capping off their weekend road trip with a 3-0 sweep of Minnesota State University Moorhead (6-7, 1-4 NSIC).
The Vikings got after it early in set one with the first four points of the match. MSU Moorhead tried to cut into Augustana's lead but the Vikings refused to allow the Dragons get on any runs. With the Vikings leading 13-7, Augustana scored five of the next six points to extend their lead to 10 at 18-8. Augustana only allowed MSUM to get within nine before ending the set by a score of 25-16.
The second set mirrored the first. Augustana jumped out to a quick 4-1 before MSU Moorhead cut into the deficit. With the Vikings leading 11-7, Augustana again used five straight points to begin their rout of the Dragons and make it 15-7. Augustana earned their first 10-point lead of set two at 20-10. This time, the Vikings were able to hang on to their double-digit lead, earning a 25-14 set two win.
The final set of the match was close early with MSUM getting their first lead of the entire match at 1-0. Augustana quickly tied it at one but fell behind for the second time at 2-1. This was the last time Augustana would trail in the match. After a 7-7 tie, the Vikings scored four straight points and never looked back. Augustana ended the match on an 8-1 run to defeat MSU Moorhead 25-12.
Viking of the Game
Bailey Koch was a catalyst for the Vikings for the second straight night. Koch led the Vikings in kills with 13 on 22 attacks while also leading the team in blocks with four. Koch also had one dig in the match.
Viking Notables
• Augustana is 5-0 in conference play for the first time since 2002. That season the Vikings started 6-0 before suffering their first loss
• Two Vikings had double-digit kills against MSUM: Koch (13) and
Hanna Justesen (10)
•
Tahlyr Banks had 13 digs and was the only Viking with double-digit digs
• Augustana had their best hitting performance of the season with an attack percentage of .349
•
Anna Sykora had 37 assists and an assists per set average of 12.33
• The Vikings avenged their 5-set loss from last season. A match in which they jumped out to a 2-0 lead before falling in five sets
• Augustana is now 19-7 all-time against MSU Moorhead and 6-2 in matches played in Moorhead, Minn.
• The Vikings have won five matches in a row and are 3-0 in true road matches
Up Next
Augustana will be back at home Friday, Sept. 30 against U-Mary and then again Saturday, Oct. 1 against Minot State. First serve against U-Mary will be at 7 p.m. while the first serve against Minot State will be at 5:30 p.m.
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