SIOUX FALLS, S.D. – The Augustana volleyball team dropped a four-set match to No. 7 Wayne State on Tuesday night at the Elmen Center, falling 25-21, 27-25, 23-25, 25-15.
With the loss, the Vikings move to 9-11 overall and 3-9 in NSIC play, while the Wildcats improve to 18-3 overall and 11-1 in the conference
Maya Wente powered the Viking offense with 15 kills on .452 hitting, adding three blocks and an ace.
Brooke Berens added 14 kills while hitting .406 and chipping in a block.
Kelby Opland contributed 10 kills and two blocks, while
Reagan Jansen added nine kills and 12 digs.
Gabby Jones led the defensive effort with 20 digs and
Alexis Nelson chipped in 19 digs.
Kiylah Franke (24 assists, 13 digs) and
Clara Hoegh (26 assists, eight digs) combined for 50 assists, helping the Vikings hit .225 as a team.
Wayne State opened with a quick 4-0 run, forcing Augustana to play from behind early. The Vikings closed within one at 16-15 after back-to-back kills from
Brooke Berens and
Kelby Opland, but the Wildcats' offense, led by Delaney Miller's five kills in the frame, held on for a 25-21 win.
The Vikings responded with their best offensive set of the night, hitting .333 behind four kills apiece from Wente and Berens. Augustana built an 18-16 lead after a block by Wente and Tims and led as late as 25-24 after a Jansen kill. The Wildcats came back and scored the final three points to take a 2-0 lead.
Augustana carried its momentum into the third, using a 4-1 mid-set run to take control.
Maya Wente was dominant with seven kills in the frame as the Vikings hit .277. A kill from Wente clinched the set 25-23, cutting the WSC lead to 2-1.
Wayne State regrouped and limited the Vikings to .125 hitting in the final frame. Despite early kills from Berens and Wente, the Wildcats surged ahead 10-6 and never trailed again. Channatee Robles and Chloe Hanel combined for nine kills in the set to secure the 25-15 match-clinching win
Augustana totaled 59 kills, 71 points, and six team blocks on the night. Wayne State hit .295 overall with 63 kills and six team blocks. The Vikings won the battle at the net through the first three sets, out-hitting the Wildcats .278 to .286, before WSC's offense took control in the fourth.
The Vikings continue NSIC play on Friday, October 24, traveling to face Minnesota Duluth.
