WINONA, Minn. -- The Augustana volleyball team fought hard but ultimately fell in a five-set thriller to No. 19 Winona State 25-21, 22-25, 16-25, 25-19, 9-15. 

The first set was a battle for both teams early on as neither team had a lead larger than two points. The Vikings broke that battle as they would go on a 6-1 run to take a 17-11 lead late. The Warriors did answer back with a 5-1 run themselves to bring them within two at 18-16. Augustana would take the first set 25-21. 

The second frame was just as competitive as the first set. This time with the score tied at 14-14 the Warriors had the big momentum swing with a 6-0 run to give them the 19-14 lead. Just like the Warriors in the first set, the Vikings answered back with a 4-0 run to bring them within 23-22. But back-to-back attacking errors by Augustana gave Winona State the second set 25-22. 

With the momentum on its side, Winona State took charge in the third stanza to take the 25-16 third set victory and go up 2-1. 

With their backs to the wall down 2-1, the Vikings fought back in the fourth set. After a kill by Megan Flom and an attacking error from the Vikings, Augustana scored the next five points to force a fifth set. 

In the fifth and final frame, Winona State came out firing on all cylinders as the Warriors used five straight kills to build a 9-2 lead. However, the Vikings fought back to go on a 4-0 run with Winona State on match point, but a Madison Rizner kill sealed the deal for the Warriors. 

Sophomore Grace Haberland led the Vikings with 12 kills while Abby Benson chipped in with 10 kills and also had six blocks while Izzy Sommers finished with nine kills and three blocks. Avery Thorson finished with a team-high 44 assists and nine digs. Freshman Lexie Langley finished with 19 digs and four aces while Erika Bute finished with 21 digs.

As a team, the Vikings recorded 51 kills, 13 aces and 50 assists. Defensively, Augustana had 63 digs and 10 blocks on the afternoon. 

Quotable
"We fought hard tonight," head coach Jennifer Jacobs said. "I believe that the match could have gone either way. I am proud of the way we bounced back from Friday night."

Up Next
Augustana travels to face cross-town rival No. 24 Sioux Falls on Tuesday night at 6 p.m. The Vikings will then host St. Cloud State on Friday at 6 p.m. and No. 4 Minnesota Duluth on Saturday at 2 p.m. inside the Elmen Center.