SIOUX FALLS, S.D. – Augustana volleyball used late momentum in each of its set victories to overpower a threatening Bemidji State team and take the 25-23, 21-25, 26-24, 25-23 win on Saturday afternoon inside the Elmen Center.
The victory pushes the Vikings to 13-8 overall this season alongside a 7-6 showing in the NSIC while the Beavers drop to 14-7 and 6-7.
Maya Wente led the Vikings with 19 kills while hitting .326 as
Kiylah Franke recorded 44 assists, four digs and one service ace.
Reagan Jansen collected 18 digs and added seven kills and two aces while
Lucy Belisle finished with 15 kills and three blocks and
Gabby Jones achieved a season-high total of 15 digs.
Augustana held the advantage in kills (62-53), aces (7-4) and assists (59-51) as Bemidji State led in blocks (10-6) and digs (78-66).
The Beavers put AU in an early 5-0 hole before and the margin reached 10-3 after a service ace. The Vikings worked back into the set with repeated kills from Wente and a Jansen ace, trimming the deficit to 13-11, and later got an
Alexis Nelson ace to move within 17-16. BSU led 22-20 and again 23-21 but AU pulled even at 23-23 on a visitor service error and a block by Belisle and
Abby Gruber. Gruber and Franke combined on another block to move the Vikings ahead 24-23 before Belisle's block finished a 25-23 set win.
Augustana started the second set with two kills from Belisle and one from Wente for a 3-0 lead, but Bemidji State worked back to 6-6 and soon went 15-10 before AU cut the set to 16-14 on Gruber kill and consecutive blocks involving Gruber with Belisle and
Kelby Opland. After the Beavers pushed the margin to 22-17, the Vikings answered with kills by Jansen, Wente and Belisle, all assisted by
Clara Hoegh, to get within 22-20.
Sydney Tims added a kill to bring AU within 23-21, but the visitors took the final two points to narrowly close the set at 25-21.
After the tight third set reached 10-10, Bemidji State scored six straight points to put the Vikings in a 16-10 hole. AU attempt the comeback with a stretch that included a Wente kill, two
Julia Blom service aces and a visiting attack error, cutting the deficit to 21-19. The Beavers reached set point at 24-20, but Augustana caught fire. Belisle put down three kills during a six-point Vikings run that tied the set at 24-24, moved AU in front 25-24 and eventually finished with a 26-24 set win.
The fourth set again stayed close early, with the Vikings moving ahead 8-6 on Jansen's kill before Bemidji State answered to take a 9-8 lead. The teams traded points through 14-14, and the Beavers moved in front 17-14 before AU responded with kills from
Jazmen Kutey, Jansen and Opland. BSU pushed the margin to 22-19, but a Wente kill, visiting attack error and a Kutey kill pulled the Vikings even at 22-22. The Beavers emerged back ahead at 23-22, but their own attack error tied the set. Kutey's kill gave AU a 24-23 lead and Franke served an ace to put the bow on a 25-23 set and four-match win.
UP NEXT
Following its 4-0 showing in a four-game stand at home, Augustana volleyball will return to the road, first visiting Minnesota Crookston on Friday, Oct. 23, at 6 p.m.
--GoAugie.com--
