SIOUX FALLS, S.D. – The Augustana volleyball team used a strong offensive performance Friday night to down the MSU Moorhead Dragons 3-1 inside the Sanford Pentagon. The Vikings prevailed 25-15, 25-19, 25-27, 25-23.
 
Augustana improves to 9-13 on the season and 6-7 in the NSIC while MSU Moorhead falls to 7-15, 3-10.
 
The opening set was all Augustana, starting with a 5-1 lead including back-to-back kills by Maya Wente. With the score sitting at 9-6, the Vikings again reeled off four-straight points to push a 13-6 gap that only continued to grow. The final three points gave AU the set victory with kills by Wente and Lucy Bartee followed by an attacking error from MSUM.
 
In the second set, Augustana used a pair of four-run spurts to push the victory. Holding a 15-14 lead, a kill by Wente sparked four-straight points. That was followed by a Wente block, Kia Kriener kill and Wente kill. On set point, Callie Hohenhaus sent a kill into the Dragon defensive side for the 25-19 win.
 
The only way to describe set three is a roller coaster as the Vikings fell behind 21-11 but came back to take a 23-22 lead. That included a spell of 10-straight points, which despite not winning the set, provided momentum for the fourth set.
 
In the fourth set, trailing 15-9, Augustana reeled off five-straight points thanks to kills by Kriener and Regan Jansen, along with blocks by Hohenhaus and Piper Ashche, along with an attack error. After the Dragons tried to steady their firepower, the Vikings steadied the ship and tied things at 21-all on another Wente kill. AU took the lead at 23-22 thanks to a Jansen kill with the Pentagon rising to its feet.
 
With the set tied at 23, Kriener recorded back-to-back kills to claim the set and the match.
 
Augustana recorded a .238 hitting percentage in the match, led by Kriener's 19 kills. Wente added 15 kills. Jansen joined the duo in double-figure kills with 10. Bartee tallied 54 assists, the second most on the season while Erika Bute totaled 34 digs.
 
Augustana is back in action Saturday on campus with a 2 p.m. first serve with Northern State inside the Elmen Center.