SIOUX FALLS, S.D. – Augustana volleyball closed play at the Augustana Volleyball Classic going 4-0 with two more wins Saturday at the Sanford Pentagon. The Vikings began their day with a 3-2 five-set thriller against the Bulldogs of Truman State before closing out play with a 3-0 win against the Wolves of Northern State. Although the Wolves are in the NSIC, the contest was a nonconference match.
Augustana is 8-0 in 2022 while Truman State is 0-8 and Northern State is 5-3. The Vikings 8-0 start matches the same mark from 2013 and last started a season better than 8-0 in 2000 in a 15-0 start.
Truman State
The Vikings captured the 25-18, 23-25, 20-25, 25-12, 16-14, victory in a five-set thriller over the Bulldogs to earn their third win of the classic.
The Vikings came out firing on all cylinders with a strong 6-0 start to set the tone for the match to come. Augustana held control of the first set following a monster kill by Kate Reimann that led the Bulldogs to their first timeout of the match. The service line was at the Vikings advantage with five of their 10 total service aces in set one alone. Reimann led both sides of the net in kills with five hitting an exceptional .833. Augustana sealed the deal with a bullseye kill by senior Maddy Guetter to reign in set one.
Truman State took hold of sets two and three, overpowering Augustana. The Vikings led both sets in total kills with 14 in set two and 16 in set three, however multiple attack errors were the VIkings demise. A final kill from the Bulldogs Hanna Berry brought home their first set win and an attack error from AU reigned home their second set win.
The Bulldogs ran into the blaze of the Vikings as Augustana took set four. Augustana hit an efficient .256 compared to Truman State's - .065 proving the dominance of the Vikings at the net. Senior Kia Kriener led both sides with six kills, one service ace, and seven points. Kriener slammed home the fourth set with a right side kill to seal the deal.
The Vikings came into set five guns blazing. Five Vikings clinched two kills apiece with seniors Piper Asche and Avery Thorson both hitting .667. Senior libero Erika Bute and Reimann each had an ace apiece. A ground shattering block from Guetter grasped the Vikings their third win of the match and third win of the classic.
Overall, Augustana recorded 69 kills and had 10 aces compared to Truman State's 45 kills and six aces. Reimann led the team with 17 kills and one ace. Kriener would finish with the match-high of 19.5 points, two aces, and 15 kills in match one of the day.
Northern State
The Vikings captured the 25-20, 25-22, 25-22, victory in three-sets over the Wolves to earn their fourth and final win of the classic.
Augustana took off running with set one where Maddy Guetter picked up where she left off in match one with a skip set attack to open set one followed by a kill. The Vikings cruised through set one with a quick 4-0 run that sent the Vikings ahead the rest of the set. Guetter finished the set with an ignited kill that would set off a fire in the Vikings .
An early 3-0 run from the Wolves gave Northern State the lead in set two. Kate Reimann and Jolie Stecher kept the VIkings at their heels with back-to-back block assists to deny the Wolves. The momentum completely shifted into Augustana's favor with the set tied at 20-all. A Northern attacker sent a hot attack into Viking territory but with a highlighted recovery from Vikings Avery Thorson, Erika Bute, and Kia Kriener they gained the advantage with a full court dig that rocketed into an Augustana point. The Vikings went on with a 8-2 run finalized by a Piper Asche and Reiman block assist to reign home set two.
Set three ignited a fire among the VIkings. No team led by more than two points the entire set creating a fired up environment. The Wolves came back biting in set three hitting 13 kills and 50 total attacks trying to claw their way in front. A cut throat kill by Reimann secured the third and final set for Augustana. The VIkings were led by Guetter in set three with seven kills, one ace, and 7.5 points; she led both sides of the net in all three categories.
Overall, Augustana recorded 48 kills and had six aces compared to the Wolves 33 kills and four aces. Guetter had 18 kills and two aces and 21 points leading the Vikings.
On the defensive side, senior libero Bute reigned in16 digs and achieved a perfect 1.000 reception to reign home an undefeated weekend.
Up Next
Augustana hosts Minnesota State in the Elmen Center Friday at 6 p.m., followed by a Saturday night matchup against Concordia St. Paul at 5 p.m. The contests are the start of NSIC action.
–GoAugie.com–
