Box Score
After losing the first two sets, the Augustana volleyball team rallied for a five-set win over Minnesota, Crookston Saturday night at the Elmen Center. Augie lost the first two sets 25-23 and 25-16 before rebounding to take the last three 25-15, 26-24, and 15-11. This marks the first five-set win for the Vikings this season.
The win improves Augie to 9-13 overall and 4-5 in NSIC play. Minnesota, Crookston slips to 3-18 on the season and 0-9 in conference play.
The Golden Eagles led for most of the first set until a block assist by freshman setter
Breanna Brandt and freshman middle
Brooke Lewko locked the score at 17-17. Minnesota, Crookston improved their lead to two points but Augie tied the score again at 22-22 with another block by Lewko and freshman right side
Jordan Spatenka. A kill by the Golden Eagles plus an attack error by Spatenka moved the score to 24-22. Spatenka pounded a kill before Minnesota, Crookston’s Amber Meyer did the same, ending the set at 25-23.
The Golden Eagles dominated set two, and led by as many as 12 points when Spatenka was blocked at 21-9. Spatenka answered with a kill and freshman setter
Dani Haley served three points in a row to move the score to 21-13. Augie would only score three more points as Minnesota, Crookston aced senior outside
Jenna Hultgren to gain the 25-16 win.
Set three remained close until Brandt served seven points in a row to make the score 13-7 in favor of the Vikings. The Golden Eagles had just nine kills and eight errors in the set, making it difficult for them to come back, and the Vikings won 25-15.
Set four proved to be a close one as the score was tied 15 times throughout the set. An attack error by the Golden Eagles tied the score at 23-23, and a kill by junior outside
Beth Talcott gave the Vikings the 24-23 lead. Minnesota, Crookston called a timeout before tying the score at 24-24 with a kill by Alyssa Krikke. Back-to-back kills from senior
Ellen Andrews and Talcott gave Augie the win, 26-24.
Augie got off to a hot start in the fifth, when a serving run by junior middle
Brianna Erickson gave the Vikings a 7-1 lead. The Golden Eagles would not go away though, and pulled to within four at 12-8. Augie managed to outlast the run, and won the set 15-11 with a final kill from Erickson.
Spatenka had her second 20-kill game in a row, as she posted 20 kills in the match to go along with 23 the night before. She also contributed five blocks. Andrews and Erickson recorded nine kills each and Lewko added eight kills to go along with a match-high six blocks.
The Vikings will be on the road again next weekend against Upper Iowa at 7 p.m. on Friday followed by Winona State at 4:30 on Saturday.