BISMARCK, N.D. — Augustana volleyball capped its final road weekend of the regular season with a dominant sweep over the University of Mary on Friday night, winning 25-16, 25-20, 25-15 at the McDowell Activity Center. The Vikings improved to 13-12 overall and 7-10 in NSIC play, while the Marauders dropped to 6-19 and 3-14.

Augustana hit an impressive .382 as a team — one of its most efficient outings of the season — and controlled every facet of the match. The Vikings tallied 41 kills to Mary's 30, committing just 12 errors on 76 swings.

Junior Lucy Belisle was dominant on the attack, finishing with 13 kills on a .579 hitting percentage to go along with three blocks and a service ace for a team-high 14.5 points. Reagan Jansen added 10 kills on a .444 clip and collected nine digs for a strong all-around performance. Kelby Opland hit .625 with six kills and four total blocks, while Maya Wente and Sydney Tims combined for seven kills and four blocks as the Vikings racked up 10 team blocks.

Setter Kiylah Franke guided the Viking offense with 19 assists, while Clara Hoegh chipped in 16 more to keep Augustana's attack balanced and unpredictable. The setting duo helped the Vikings record sideout percentages above 60% in all three sets, including 75% in the opening frame. Defensively, Lucy Cogan Jansen anchored the back row, combining for 18 digs and were two of 10 Vikings to record a dig.

The Vikings wasted little time seizing control of the opening set, firing on all cylinders offensively to hit an outstanding .524 as a team. Lucy Belisle and Reagan Jansen provided early sparks with quick kills off the right side, while Maya Wente added a pair of efficient swings through the middle to extend the lead. 

Augustana used a 7-2 run midway through the frame to force a Mary timeout, then closed on another 5-1 burst behind solid serving from Gabby Jones and Clara Hoegh. The Vikings' front line was equally sharp, tallying two blocks and forcing multiple attack errors to stifle the Marauder offense, which hit just -.036 in the set. Kelby Opland and Brooke Berens sealed the 25-16 win with back-to-back kills, setting the tone for what would be a complete team performance.

Mary found some early rhythm in the second set, trading points through the first 20 rallies as both teams settled into extended rallies. But once again, Augustana's attack depth proved too much. Belisle caught fire midway through the set, recording four of her team-high 13 kills during a decisive stretch that turned a 13-13 tie into a 20-16 Viking advantage. 

Opland and Sydney Tims were key at the net, teaming up for several crucial blocks to halt Mary's momentum. Defensively, Lucy Cogan anchored the back row with five digs in the frame, while Hoegh distributed the ball with precision, helping Augustana close the set with kills from five different hitters. The Vikings hit .281 in the second while holding the Marauders to just .150. A final swing from Berens down the line capped the 25-20 win, giving Augustana a commanding 2-0 lead.

Augustana carried its confidence into the third, jumping out to an 8-4 lead after Tims opened the frame with back-to-back service aces. The Vikings' block continued to dominate as Opland, Berens, and Tims combined for three early stuffs to disrupt the Marauder attack. Belisle continued her efficient night with four more kills, while Franke and Wente kept the offense varied and unpredictable. 

Augustana hit .391 in the final frame and held Mary to just .097, maintaining steady control from start to finish. A 6-1 run late in the set, capped by a Franke service ace, pushed the Vikings to match point. Moments later, Tims and Berens combined on a block to clinch the sweep, 25-15. With the victory, Augustana finished with 10.0 team blocks and five aces, dominating in every statistical category to close out a convincing road win.

The Vikings play their final regular season home game on Saturday, taking on Minot State at noon.