SIOUX FALLS, S.D. -- The Augustana volleyball team concluded its regular season play falling to No. 11 St. Cloud State in four sets (26-24, 25-22, 25-15, 25-21) inside the Elmen Center on Saturday night. However, the Vikings secured the No. 6 seed in the NSIC Tournament and will play at 2:30 p.m. on Thursday against Concordia-St. Paul inside the Sanford Pentagon.
The Vikings move to 18-10 on the season and 13-7 within the NSIC while the Huskies are 23-4 overall and 18-1 within the loop.
The two teams dueled for the majority of the first set, with Augustana having a one-point lead at 23-22.
A kill by junior Kate Reimann tied the set at 24-all, although the Huskies would prevail with back-to-back kills to claim set one, 26-24.
Augustana came out red-hot in the second set, jumping out to a 10-4 lead, scoring four unanswered points at the 6-4 mark.
Junior Maddy Guetter accounted for two kills in the four-point spurt.
The Huskies would come within one point down the stretch of the second set at 23-22, but the Vikings would prevail off a kill by Reimann to take set two, 25-22.
After starting the third set down 8-4, Augustana was able to chip away at the deficit with kills by senior Payton Rosendahl and Reimann to make it 8-7.
As the set progressed, the Huskies began to find numerous multiple-point runs, with the most problem-making one coming at the 17-12 mark, which ended at 20-12 in favor of St. Cloud State.
The Huskies would ultimately take the third set 25-15 to give them a 2-1 advantage.
Augustana fought the entire fourth set and was within striking distance down the stretch, behind two points at 22-20.
Unfortunately, the Huskies would go on to score four of the next five points to claim the fourth set (25-21) and the set, 3-1.
Maddy Guetter led the Vikings in kills (17) and digs (19) while Avery Thorson led the way with 46 assists.
Kenzie Foley led the Huskies in kills (20) and digs (18) while Maddy Torve led the way with 52 assists.
Up Next
The No. 6 seeded Vikings open up the NSIC tournament facing the No. 3 seed, Concordia-St. Paul. The match is slated for 2:30 p.m. on Thursday inside the Sanford Pentagon.
--GoAugie.com--