SIOUX FALLS, S.D. -- The Augustana volleyball team defeated UMary 3-0 on Friday inside the Elmen Center in its 2019 home opener. With the win, the Vikings move to 9-3, 2-1 NSIC and the Marauders fall to 1-10, 0-3 NSIC.

Augustana came out hot in its first home match of the season. The Vikings opened up the first set with a 7-0 run before the Marauders scored their first point off a kill to make it 7-1. Augustana reeled off five more points to make the score 12-3 thanks to a kill from Maddy Guetter. The Vikings would win the first set 25-12. 

Augustana started off the second set a little slower than the first set with the score tied 4-4 early.  The Vikings picked up the momentum in a hurry to score four straight points to make the score 8-4. From there on the Vikings outscored the Marauders 17-4 to take the second set 25-8.

The Marauders found some life in the third set as they traded points back and forth. A kill by Avery Thorson gave Augustana the 11-8 lead and a kill by Mearah Miedema made the score 19-14 Vikings. But UMary wasn't down and out, they used a 5-1 run to make the score 20-19 Vikings. A service error from Kia Kriener made the score 24-23 Augustana but one of Abby Benson's team-high 10 kills secured the set and the sweep for the Vikings. 

Benson would tie her career-high with 10 kills on the night on a .368 hitting percentage. The sophomore also picked up five blocks on the night. Guetter also recorded 10 kills on a .400 hitting percentage and recorded seven digs. 

Freshman Erika Bute picked up 19 digs and two service aces while Thorson recorded 29 assists and seven digs. 

Overall, the Vikings recorded 43 kills, six aces and 39 assists. Defensively, they recorded seven blocks and 56 digs. 

Quotable
"I am proud of the way we came out tonight for our home opener," head coach Jennifer Jacobs said. "A lot of fire and grit. This team has a lot of energy!"

Up Next
The Vikings will finish the weekend hosting Minot State tomorrow inside the Elmen Center at 2 p.m.