SIOUX FALLS, S.D. -- The Augustana volleyball team prevailed against Northern State, winning in five sets (25-12, 27-25, 25-22, 25-20, 15-9) inside the Elmen Center on Saturday night.
The Vikings continue their win-streak, now extended to six wins, and hold an overall record of 12-5 and 7-2 within the NSIC. The Wolves fall to 10-7 overall and 5-4 in the loop.
Junior Maddy Guetter, hailing from Wabasso, Minnesota, was the difference-maker in the Vikings win, setting a new school record for kills in a single match. She recorded 34 kills on the night while holding a hitting percentage of .459.
After losing a hard-fought set second, (27-25) the Vikings found themselves down 2-0 in the match.
The two teams battled almost the entirety of the third set. After Northern State accumulated a kill to bring the Wolves within one at 23-22, Augustana had back-to-back kills from Guetter and junior Kia Kriener to give the Vikings its first set of the night, winning 25-23.
Northern State would not go away easily, having a six-point lead early in the fourth set at 11-5.
Augustana would then answer with a five-point run of its own to notch the score at 12-all.
The Vikings used a four-point run late in the fourth set to give Augustana a three-point cushion at 18-15. From that point, the Vikings would hold the lead, ultimately claiming set four (25-20) off a Northern State attack error to send the match to a fifth-set.
Augustana had the advantage of the Elmen Center in the fifth set, as the Vikings did not allow the Wolves a lead down the stretch. A four-point run late in the set put Augustana three points away from the victory, at 12-7.
Sophomore Callie Hohenhaus and Guetter accumulated kills in the run.
From that point, Augustana recorded kills on three of the next give points. Guetter raised her carer-best night in kills while delivering the final kill to claim both the victory and surpass the previous school record of 33 kills. Augustana claimed the set 15-9 and captured the reverse sweep.
Augustana was led by Guetter with 34 kills, Thorson garnered 50 assists, while Bute accumulated 15 digs.
Northern State was led by Natalia Szybinska, Keri Walker racking up 52 assists and Havyn Heinz securing 22 digs.
Up Next
The Vikings head out on the road for matches against Minnesota State on Friday, slated for a 6 p.m. start. Augustana then travels to No. 4 ranked Concordia-St. Paul on Saturday, with a 2 p.m. match time.
--GoAugie.com--
