SIOUX FALLS, S.D. – The Augustana volleyball team fell to No. 16 Minnesota Duluth in five sets. After the Vikings climbed back in the third and fourth sets, the Bulldogs pulled away with a griddy fifth set win to stop the potential reverse sweep Saturday night in the Elmen Center. 

AU moved to 8-5 on the season and 2-3 in conference play. Brooke Berens garnered 20 kills with a hitting percentage of .383. Maya Wente collected 14 kills while Lucy Belisle finished out the top three hitters with 12. Sydney Tims, Kiylah Franke and Clara Hoegh all accrued three service aces each. Franke tallied a match-high 54 assists. 

Augustana totaled 59 kills with a hitting percentage of .197. 

UMD opened up set one with a five-point run to stretch its lead to 6-1. The Vikings clawed back and tied the set at 15-15 off an attack error. The Bulldogs regained momentum with a seven-point run and carried their lead to a set one win, 25-19. 

In a hard-fought second set that involved big swings, blocks and rallies, Augustana generated a six-point run capped by a kill from Tims. As the set continued, both teams battled point-for-point before Duluth carried a three-point run to secure set two, 25-20. 

Augustana opened up set three with momentum and jumped out to an early 12-7 lead, capped by Berens.  The Vikings continued to progress throughout the set and made it a 19-12 lead after a kill from Belisle. AU secured set three, 25-21, after a kill from Tims. 

UMD controlled the early parts of the fourth set with a five-point run as it jumped out to an 8-5 lead. Franke turned the tide and helped push the Vikings on a six-point run to earn the lead. The Vikings continued their offensive presence and forced a fifth set. 

Both teams exchanged points before a four-point run by the Vikings put them in front, 12-11. After a well-played challenge by the Bulldogs, UMD put a stop to the reverse sweep and secured set five, 15-13. 

Up Next
Augustana returns to the court on Friday, Oct. 3, in St. Paul, Minnesota as it faces Concordia-St. Paul. The match is set to begin at 6 p.m.