Box Score
The Augustana volleyball team suffered a five-set loss to MSU Moorhead Friday night at the Elmen Center. The loss came despite a career night for two of Augie's freshmen. Right side
Jordan Spatenka finished the night with a career-high 23 kills while setter
Breanna Brandt recorded 11 kills.
The loss drops the Vikings to 8-12 on the season and 3-5 in the NSIC. The Dragons improve to 14-7 and 4-4 in conference play.
The Dragons got off to a hot start in set one and jumped out to a 10-5 lead after a service ace by Andrea Rachel. They continued to build on that lead until a kill from senior right side
Ellen Andrews scored a point for the Vikings at 22-13. The Vikings tried to claw their way back in, but the Dragons came out on top in set one 25-17.
Augie took a 9-5 lead in the second set when a service ace by freshman outside #Megan Bezdicek forced MSU Moorhead to take a timeout. The Dragons battled back and tied the score at 13-13 thanks to a Viking attack error. The teams then traded leads until a kill by Bezdicek gave the Vikings game point at 24-22. The Dragons wouldn't go away though and scored two straight points to tie the score at 24-24 thanks to a receiving error by freshman libero
Grace Sanders. The Vikings put down back-to-back kills from Bezdicek and senior outside
Jenna Hultgren to earn the 26-24 win.
Set three went back and forth with the Dragons taking an early 6-1 lead before a serving run by Brandt and a kill from Spatenka tied the score at 8-8. With the score tied at 22-22, Brandt put the Vikings up one with a kill before Laura Tvrdik retied the score at 23-23 with a kill of her own. Another kill from Brandt followed by an attack error by the Dragons gave the Vikings the 25-23 win.
The Vikings led for most of set four until a kill by Mary Sussenguth gave the Dragons the 15-14 advantage and scored two more points, improving their lead to 17-14. The Vikings pulled to within one with a kill by Spatenka at 20-19, but Sanders served the ball into the net on the next play. MSU Moorhead's Katy Ness served four points in a row to force a game five and beat the Vikings 25-20.
Augie led 8-6 in the fifth game, but scrappy defense by the Dragons allowed them to tie it up at 10-10. The Dragons took a lead after an ace, but a kill by spatenka tied the game at 12-12 again. A kill by MSU Moorhead's Heidi Lensing followed by a Viking attack error forced Augie to take a timeout at 14-12. The Dragons sealed the win with a final attack error by the Vikings.
Spatenka's 23 kills is the most by a Viking this season. Sophomore middle
Alex Burke also added a season-high 10 kills and four blocks. Brandt dished out 34 assists and Haley added 31.
The Vikings will be back in action again tomorrow against MInnesota, Crookston at the Elmen Center. Match is at 4 p.m.