SIOUX FALLS, S.D. – Augustana volleyball faced the No. 5-ranked Huskies from St. Cloud State in Friday night action and seemed to hold its own through tough competition before eventually falling in three sets 25-18, 25-19, 25-22 in the Elmen Center.
 
The Vikings drop to 9-8 on the season with a 5-3 NSIC record while the Huskies jump to 13-2 with an undefeated 7-0 conference showing.
 
Maya Wente led with six kills alongside six total blocks—including one solo—as Sydney Tims swung at a clip of .385 for five kills with three total blocks. Lucy Bartee dished out 20 assists and Gabby Jones collected 13 digs. Tims and Bartee each also added two service aces.
 
Augustana held the advantage over St. Cloud State with 10 total blocks in addition to 27 kills and 36 digs.
 
The Vikings hit early in the first set, taking a 7-3 lead to force a timeout from the Huskies. But St. Cloud State soon tied it up and took its first lead at 13-12. Errors from Augustana soon made it a four-point difference and the Huskies would score five straight points. Despite an ace from Jansen and service errors from the opponents, SCSU would take set one 25-18.
 
Set two started off with close back-and-forth action until four straight points from Augustana made it a 13-8 score in favor of the home team. An attack from Bartee pushed the lead to six until the Huskies immediately fired back with an unrelenting 10-0 run. Back-to-back aces from Bartee again made it a one-point difference but the final five points would go to the visitors and end it, 25-19.
 
A Wente kill, Tims kill, Tims and Bartee block and Jones ace would electrify the Vikings in the opening of set three, eventually ballooning to a 14-10 lead off Viking back-to-back blocks. but the Huskies would fight back with a 6-1 run to take a 16-15 lead. The score would tie four more times, finally at 19-all, until SCSU scored five straight. Despite a final hard-fought effort from Augustana, the set would end 25-22.
 
Augustana returns to its home court tomorrow, Oct. 12, with a 2 p.m. tilt scheduled against the #20 Minnesota Duluth Bulldogs.