SIOUX FALLS, S.D. – Augustana volleyball closely battled Winona State in Thursday night action at home before ultimately dropping in three sets 25-23, 26-24, 25-17 inside the Elmen Center.
 
The Vikings are now 10-11 overall with a 6-6 record in NSIC play while the Warriors improve to 14-8 overall and 7-4 in conference action.
 
Maya Wente led the attack for the home team with 11 kills off a sizzling .579 hitting percentage as Lucy Belisle slammed down seven kills and Brooke Berens and Reagan Jansen each added in six.
 
Lucy Bartee dished out 26 assists to go along with her eight digs as Sydney Tims tallied two service aces. On the defensive, Gabby Jones collected 11 digs and Wente added in two solo blocks and five block assists.
 
Augustana totaled 34 kills on the night alongside 31 assists, eight total blocks and five service aces.
 
An early block from Wente and Jansen helped give the Vikings an 8-4 lead to open up the first set, a lead that carried into the midway point of action. After an error from the Warriors made it a 16-13 game, three straight points tied it up. Augustana regained control off a kill from Belisle but the tide quickly turned and Winona State took over at 20-19. A 3-1 run soon made it a 23-21 advantage for the visitors and the Vikings hit back to tie it at 23, but the set would end 25-23 in favor of the Warriors.
 
Set two began just as close, with an ace from Alexis Nelson tying it up at nine apiece. Augustana took its first lead at 12-11 off an error from the Warriors, who responded with four straight points to regain the lead. Following an exchange of three-point runs, the Vikings had cut the difference down to a score of 19-18. That lead again increased to three until the home team scored three straight to tie it at 23-all. It tied again at 24 off a kill from Berens, but back-to-back kills from Winona State ended it, 26-24.
 
The Warriors came out strong in the third set, taking a 6-2 lead off of strong serving. And it would be a lead that they would not rescind. Errors added up for the visitors and a kill from Tims helped make it a 9-8 game, but a 5-1 run courtesy of a strong front row block and attack pushed it back to a 15-10 advantage. Winona State continued to push on the gas and rack in the kills and, despite Augustana's best effort, would take it 25-17.
 
Looking Ahead
The Vikings will hit the road to face the Minnesota State Mavericks in early morning action on Saturday, Oct. 26. First serve is set for 11 a.m. in Mankato.