BOX SCORE SIOUX FALLS S.D--  Augustana Volleyball came into Friday night seeking their first win in Northern Sun Conference play. The Vikings battled but came up short against the Minnesota State falling 3-1 in four tight sets (25-23, 25-17, 25-21, 25-17)The loss drops the Vikings to 5-7 (0-4 NSIC) on the year and Minnesota State to 10-2 (3-1 NSIC).

Head coach Jen Jacobs was optimistic heading into tomorrow's match. "It was a tough loss tonight, we'll have to regroup going into tomorrow. It's the little things that count," Jacobs said.

Augustana came out swinging getting out to an early 9-4 lead off a Grace Haberland kill forcing a MSU timeout. The Vikings continued strong out of the timeout forcing another at 16-10 off a kill from Courtney Place. Minnesota State did not go quietly as they rallied back leading to Augustana timeouts at 19-16 and 23-21. The Vikings outlasted Minnesota State to take the first set 25-23.

Set two picked up where the first left off with back-and-forth action. The Vikings and Mavericks traded points to a score of 11-9 at which point Minnesota State called their first timeout. Minnesota State came back to take the lead 14-13. Augustana called a timeout, but that didn't slow the Mavericks as they finished on an 11-4 run to take the second set 25-17.

The stalemate continued into the third set as both teams battled to a score of 13-11 before Mavericks called their first timeout. Back to back kills from Place and Payton Rosendahl along with a tandem block from Izzy sommers and Grace Haberland brought the Vikings to a 19-16 lead. But, the Mavericks proved to much for the Vikings who fought back to a score of 21-23 before falling in the third set 25-21.

The fourth set was all Mavericks as they as they pulled ahead 8-3 early. They Vikings battled, but fell short, the Mavericks won 25-17.

Courtney Place led the Vikings with 23 kills and 10 digs.

The Vikings are back in action tomorrow at 2 p.m. at the Elmen Center vs. No. 3 Concordia-St. Paul.