SIOUX FALLS, S.D. - The Augustana volleyball team (8-4 overall, 2-2 NSIC) opened its home slate with a 25-11, 25-23, 25-23 sweep over Bemidji State (3-9, 0-4) on Friday night inside the Elmen Center.

Lucy Belisle had 10 kills and just one error while hitting .500. Maya Wente and Brooke Berens had seven kills apiece while combining for seven blocks. Alexis Nelson and Gabby Jones each had eight digs while Ellie Walker tallied seven. 

The Vikings sprung ahead early thanks to a 13-2 run, starting with Brooke Berens and capped by an attack error. The Beavers chipped back within 15-9 before a 7-1 sprint had them back in front 22-10. After a BSU point, AU scored the final three points to take set one. 

In set two, ties of 1-1, 2-2, 3-3. 4-4, 5-5, and 6-6 opened the set. The Vikings inched ahead 9-8 and then rattled off four straight points to grow the lead to five at 13-8. The five-point lead lingered until a 5-1 BSU run brought them within 19-18. Berens stopped the rally with a kill and helped boost the Vikings in front by as many as 24-20. The Beavers scored three straight points before a Wente kill gave the Vikings a 2-0 lead. 

BSU looked to extend the game after taking a 6-2 lead. The Vikings crawled within a pair of points and then three straight Belisle kills, followed by a Franke ace, to take a 10-8 lead. That lead grew to 14-10 but a Beaver rally got them back within 14-13. AU continued leading until 19-17 when BSU scored four straight points to take a 21-19 lead. The Vikings never wavered, scoring six of the final eight points to close out a sweep. 

Augustana is back in action Saturday afternoon, hosting No. 16 Minnesota Duluth at 5 p.m., at the Elmen Center.