GOLDEN, Colo. — The Augustana volleyball program opened up its 2023 season at the Oredigger Classic, hosted by Colorado School of Mines, on Friday. The Vikings dropped the first match of the day 3-0 against the University of Findlay before falling 3-1 at the hands of Colorado Christian.
Findlay
The Vikings fell at the hands of the Oilers, 25-15, 25-20, 25-19 to kick off the 2023 campaign.
Findlay held control for most of the first set, leading by at least two points from 4-2 on. The Vikings held close until 16-12, when the Oilers rattled off six straight points to create separation and help take set one.
Set two saw a challenge from the Vikings, kills from Kia Kriener and Maya Wente helped bring the score to 3-3 in the early going. Findlay went on to score six consecutive points to take a commanding lead, keeping the six point advantage until 17-11.
Augustana stormed back, as Kriener and Wente were joined by Reagan Jansen and Sydney Tims in the attack column, and a Kiylah Franke ace and Wente/Jansen block coupled to cap a 6-1 run, bringing the Vikings within one at 18-17. Augustana hung around until 22-20, when the Oilers scored the final three points to take a 2-0 lead.
It would be the Vikings that jumped out to an early lead in the third set, scoring eight of 12 points after Findlay scored the first two to take an 8-6 lead. A 9-2 flurry from Findlay followed, giving them a 15-10 lead. Augustana delivered one final blow, scoring nine of the next 15 points to close the gap at 21-19, but the Oilers scored the final four points to end the match.
Augustana had six players make their Viking debuts, with Wente delivering eight kills on a .583 hitting percentage and adding a team-high five blocks to lead the newcomers.
Kia Kriener collected nine kills to lead the team offensively, while Lucy Bartee delivered 22 assists to stabilize. Erika Bute picked up where she left off on the back-line, picking up a team-best 20 digs.
Colorado Christian
The Vikings dropped game two 20-25, 25-19, 26-24, 25-13 at the hands of the Cougars.
After the teams split the first 10 points, the CCU marched in front on the heels of a 6-0 for an 11-5 lead. After the Cougar lead slugged to 14-9, the Vikings surged, scoring eight straight points and 13 of the next 16, led by Hohenhaus, Kriener, and Wente. They combined for 10 kills and a block to cruise to a first set victory.
The Vikings carried the momentum into the second set, scoring five of the first six points to lead 5-1 after a pair of Kriener kills and a Hohenhous kill preluded a block that they would combine for. The Cougars countered with 11 of the next 15 points to lead 12-9, and wouldn't trail the rest of the way.
The Cougars followed up a second set victory with a 9-5 run to open the third set. The lead inched to 21-16 late before the Vikings stormed back. A 9-3 Augie run evened the match at 24-24, but the Cougars went on to score the final two points to take a 2-1 lead.
CCU closed the match in the fourth set, scoring 11 of 12 points after the Vikings opened with a 7-5 lead, going ahead 16-8 and never looking back.
Kriener delivered 12 kills and seven blocks, while Wente collected 11 kills and three blocks to lead the front line, while Erika Bute had 17 digs and Reagan Jansen had 11 in the back line.
The Vikings close out the Oredigger Classic on Saturday, taking on Pitt State at 10 a.m., before concluding against No. 21 Colorado Mesa at 3 p.m.
--GoAugie.com--
