Sioux Falls, S.D.-- Augustana Volleyball earned a conference win on Friday night defeating Minnesota Crookston in straight sets (25-14, 25-18, 25-20). The win brings the Vikings to 6-12 (1-9 NSIC) and drops the Golden Eagles to 3-15 (1-9 NSIC).
Head coach Jen Jacobs was encouraged with her team's play tonight. "The team played phenomenal," said Jacobs, "The energy and effort, the second efforts specifically were huge for us. We played games in practice this week where they got points for the second efforts and you could see that translate on the court tonight."
Set one started off tight early, Augustana held a three-point lead (12-9) when UMC called their first timeout. Out of the timeout, the Vikings were unstoppable finishing strong on a 12-2 run. A kill from
Sophia Terwilleger put set one away (25-14) for the Vikings. Augustana hit an impressive .406 in the first set.
The second set started similar to the first with back-n-forth play from the Vikings and Golden Eagles. Augustana began to pull away with a 10-7 lead. The Vikings then added to their lead with back-to-back aces from
Kaylea Ahrens which forced a UMC timeout at a score of 17-11. Moments later, a kill from
Izzy Sommers finished the set for Augustana 25-18.
Augustana came out swinging in the third set jumping out to a 13-4 lead on a kill from
Payton Rosendahl. The Golden Eagles fought back to bring the score to 18-12 forcing an Augustana timeout. But the Vikings outlasted the Golden Eagles for 25-20 set win and a 3-0 match victory.
Overall, the Vikings hit .261 to the Golden Eagles .185. Another key stat in the victory was Augustana's nine aces to UMC's three.
Leading the way for the Vikings on offense was
Courtney Place with 13 kills and
Avery Thorson with 35 assists.
Kaylea Ahrens had 16 digs on the defensive end.
For the Golden Eagles Deaira Gresham lead the way with nine kills.
Augustana is back in action Saturday at 5 p.m. vs. Bemidji State at the Elmen Center. Fans who present a ticket from Saturday's home football game will receive a $5 tickets to volleyball.
