MARSHALL, Minn. -- The Augustana volleyball team dropped its match against No. 5 Southwest Minnesota State in three sets (25-20, 27-25, 25-16) in Marshall, Minnesota, on Tuesday night.

The Vikings are now 6-5 on the season and 1-2 in the NSIC, while the Mustangs move to 11-0 and 3-0 within the loop.

The Vikings controlled the early portion of the first set and gained their biggest lead of the set after a kill by junior Kate Reimann gave Augustana a 17-13 advantage.

From that point, the Mustangs would go on a four-point run and gain momentum. Two points from the Vikings would make it 20-19, in favor of Augustana but an additional run from SMSU would give it the first set, 25-20.

The two teams battled it out in the second set, with no team having an advantage, being tied 20-all.

A service ace from senior Grace Haberland would give the Vikings match point, 24-22, but the Mustangs crawled back into the set, and ultimately claimed set two, scoring the final three points, 27-25.

A kill by junior Maddy Guetter in the middle portion of the third set tied things up at 10-all. However, the Mustangs put together two convincing runs before the third set was decided at 25-16, in favor of SMSU.

Despite the loss the Vikings out-blocked the Mustangs nine to eight. Freshman Jolie Stecher accounted for seven of those blocks.

Augustana was led by Payton Rosendahl with 10 kills, Avery Thorson with 22 assists and Erika Bute with 22 digs.

The Mustangs were led by Meg Schmidt with 16 kills, Alisa Bengen with 38 assists and Payton Hjerleid with 20 digs.

Up Next

Augustana will play its first home matches of the season this Friday and Saturday. Friday, the Vikings will host Bemidji State with the match slated for a 6 p.m. start, followed by a match against Minnesota Crookston, Saturday at 2 p.m.

--GoAugie.com--