MOORHEAD, Minn. – The Augustana volleyball team fell in five sets to Minnesota State Moorhead on Friday night in Nemzek Fieldhouse to open up conference play. The Vikings dropped the opening two sets, 25-22, 25-18, before they secured sets three and four, 25-21, 25-23. MSUM edged out the Vikings in the fifth set, 15-12.

Augustana moved to 6-3 on the season and 0-1 in NSIC play. The Vikings return to the court Saturday afternoon in Crookston, Minnesota, to take on Minnesota Crookston at 2 p.m. 

The Vikings edged out the Dragons in Kills, 66-59, and held a slight advantage in aces, 9-7. Augustana held its highest hitting percentage in the third set with .406. Reagan Jensen continued her strong season with a match-high 18 kills and added three aces. Maya Wente followed up the attack with 16, while Brooke Berens rounded out the top-three hitters with 14. Kiylah Franke recorded a season-high 60 assists while adding 12 digs.

AU opened up set one with a four-point run before MSUM answered with a three-point run of its own. The Vikings remained in the driver's seat and held the Dragons to within two throughout the set. Minnesota State Moorhead turned the momentum with a kill from Jocelin Feutz to even the set at 19-19. Both teams traded blows until MSUM went on a five-point run to secure the first set, 25-22.

After trading point-for-point in the beginning of the second set, MSUM pulled in front with a six-point run to make it 14-6. Augustana fought to even the score, but the momentum laid in the home team's favor as the Dragons took set two 25-18.

Set three began the same as set two, with both programs edging out the other for the lead. MSUM pulled away with a three-point lead before AU secured back-to-back kills from Wente, followed by a service ace from Sydney Tims to make the score even at 11-11. In the late stages of the set, Augustana went on a four-point run capped by a service ace from Lucy Cogan to make the score 21-18. After trading points, the Vikings topped the Dragons to force a fourth set, 25-21.

Minnesota State Moorhead answered back in the fourth set as it took an early 5-2 lead. Augustana remained patient and tied the match, 10-10 off a kill from Jansen. The Vikings extended their lead to five with a service ace from Jansen. MSUM attempted to even the score, but the Augustana offense remained strong and forced a fifth set with a set four win, 25-23.

MSUM dropped the opening point of the fifth set but responded with a three-point run to make it 3-1. Augustana jumped out to a 7-5 lead before the Dragons responded with a four-point run. MSUM pulled ahead late and edged out the Vikings to secure the Friday night win a 15-12 set five win. 

Up Next
Augustana returns to the court on Saturday afternoon as it takes on Minnesota Crookston in Crookston, Minnesota. The match is slated for 2 p.m.